Monday, September 20, 2010

The 4th Season...and the end of.

Spring past into summer so gently I almost didn't notice, so swiftly I blinked and it was over. Adam was walking, and little by little I made the most amazing of friends. Here is where I have to work on my heart though for it is hard to not be bitter with the fact, that I make this friend just in time to leave. Yet I focus on the fact that she is amazing, and I enjoy every second I spend with her until I leave and the chances after that. Because as I so often forget, it's not about me it's about him and he does what he does for me despite what I am. Karolina has drawn me back to God...and she and this park are Godsends.

So here is summer.


The new season of benches...

walking....one year...



45 days...and I leave this place....

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The park in 3 seasons.




The park, the park is the one thing, other then little Adam that I will miss the most. It's where I've met everyone one I know in Chicago, it's where each day I visit I am met with some new and completely ridiculous experience. The park is the very definition of America, the hobos, the hippies, the disgruntled middelaged black men talking Revolution trying to feel young. The millions of colors and ethnic groups, the melting pot of languages, and ideas. The arts, the sciences, it's all there walking, sitting, laying, swimming, biking, jogging, dog walking, playing, climbing, screaming, cussing, singing. Telling a story most of the world is oblivious too. Yes the park is the one thing I will miss...and the lake shore, I have grown to love the sound of it, sitting on the painted bench, or under the trees, in all seasons it's the one thing never much changed. Every time I go there I want to write about the characters of my park, the regulars, the kids Ive watched grow for a year, from hats and gloves and snowballs, to rainboots and umbrellas, to swimsuits and shovels. The parents the nannys, the stories the accents, the laughter. Yes the park... where I've been hit on by all sorts of people in all sorts of ways. Where I go when I'm homesick, or lonely, or sad. Yes the park. So here in pictures is what I always talk about...This past year captured in seasons of change.





The first day...

The benches change...the ones now are different I don't like them quit as much, but it's still neat.

This is how big he was one year ago, almost exactly.


The path by the water...

The full line of benches and the fall trees....it's starting to look like this again...
I meet Mike that fall, and ended up getting a restraining order on him, my next friend was a girl...and I hope she can stay a friend after I move. but more on Karolina later. Winter set in, and I was shut in..with little Adam day after day after day..but now and again I would get out..with or without him, and there would still be people in the park..the die hards mostly the disgruntled middle aged black men, who hit on me (I quickly learned to do my best to avoid them, sometimes it's just not possible though. So the park covered with snow, looks like this




This is how big he was at Christmas....

and just when I thought the winter was going to do me in...this happened...overnight.



And hes crawling....




And spring gave way to summer...and that I'll post soon.