Contemplation

An empty park on a beautiful summer afternoon made me contemplative...as we walked to our neighborhood park, the first word that popped into my head when we arrived was loneliness  - that word eventually turned into a feeling of heavy sadness. A big park in a beautiful setting on an afternoon where the temperatures were only in the 80s. Swings left unswung and slides basking in the sun with no one climbing up or sliding down them...no one in the fields running around, no pick up game on the baseball diamond...yet a neighborhood full of children. Although I enjoyed the peace and quiet and gazing out into the fields and wetlands, it made me a bit sad that more people weren't out enjoying the day and made me wonder where everyone is.  What does a park have to be in order to attract more people to it? Maybe if it had a docking station or free wifi, it would help.

My kids love going to the park and even when it is easier to send them out  into the backyard to play instead of walking the two blocks to a different setting, there are times when that is just what we need.  But, I know they would enjoy it more if there were other kids there to play with them.  Cole is still fine playing on his own, but the girls love companionship.  They play well together for the most part, until competition gets the better of them.  As they get older, it feels like their physical capabilities - once quite different - are merging and in some cases, Skye, younger by two years, has abilities that surpass Sydney's (mostly in the monkey bar area - if it were in softball or basketball or golf, it would be another story. Luckily, it's not).  I totally understand where Syd's frustrations come from... she loves sports and all things competition. Skye, on the other hand, could live quite happily in a sports-free world.  Luckily, they have me to play referee and they quickly bounce back and continue their care-free ways.

And, one more thing about parks...why do the park powers that be feel the need to put a gigantic rectangle of sand in the middle of the park?  As fun as it may be at the time, it's a sandy mess without the benefit of the beach. It is nature's litter box - once I heard that phrase, I visualize wild animals using the "litter box" whenever I see sand at a park. Yuck to the yuck!

On the way to the park...

Cole loves everything cars. He's close to outgrowing this one.

They started out on the monkey bars separately...until it was time to see who the faster one is...

Skyler flies across the monkey bars with little effort. I wish I had her upper body strength.

The good thing about being the only ones at the park is the freedom to play on anything at any time.

A solitary moment.

Syd sporting Skye's new fake glasses. I wish I didn't need glasses on a daily basis. Skye spent some of her birthday money on fake ones.

Even the trees looked lonely at the park...

Why the sand???

The competition commences...

Syd was okay with Skye passing her up on the monkey bars. Skye's nickname as a toddler was BoBo, named for her ability to be monkey like in her climbing efforts.

I couldn't convince Cole to stay out of the sand.

The lone survivor in the wood chips.

It appears as if the Hong Kong weather followed us here...