Villiage Square Park and Center School
I took a notebook with me to Villiage Square Park and Center School. The following are the fruits of my labor there.
*****
Villiage Square Park
This park really doesn't look that much different than the one in Eagle Ridge. It's even got the same kinda stumpy barbeque grill.
There's a blue slide here that I remember. It used to be red.
The tennis court, basketball court, and the big gravely area with the mesh hood where kids play baseball, all look familiar. Even some of the trees look familiar. I wonder how long they've been here. Since 1986, when this park was dedicated? Or are some of these trees even older than me?
Ah, the tiny hill. This sparks a memory. It's really nothing but a little dip in the ground as you're on your way to the pond. But this thing has my footprints all over it, I think Mark and I actually ran up it as we were desperately feeling that Park District activity. lol
Did I ever play t-ball here? I think I did. Man, I was so bad at t-ball. Granted, I doubt that there are a lot of kids out there that have really mastered it, but I just remember I wasn't very good. I guess that's why I'm not much of a sporty guy. I can play sports, sure, but I don't accell at them. I'd much rather work hard at things I accell at, like writing and journalism. These are areas I know I can improve in. Wheras I'll always suck at football.
Yeah, I definitely played t-ball or baseball here. Though I'm pretty sure it was baseball. There are ghosts of me all across this field. Even at this pond, which I haven't see in years. The water smells so good, so natural, so fresh. It reminds me of our trips to Lake Michigan. This smell was there too.
Sitting here, I'm reminded of the time Grandpa Carroll took Scott and I fishing at the pond off 104th. Grandpa Carroll was always so sweet to us. He always called me his "ol' buddy." I used to hate leaving their old house in St. Louis, because they were always so great. Only now am I being told that they never really got along as a couple. My Mom told Aunt Jan the other day: "They've been married for 59 years, and have been fighting for 58 and a half." I never would have suspected it.
Grandpa Carroll has alsheimers now, a condition I sometimes feel like I already have. I just hope he can be brave...
There's all these geese and ducks sitting at the pond's lip. A goose actually hissed at me when I went to get Star Wars tickets. Can you believe that? Eric and I also had one hiss at us at the midnight show. I didn't even know geese COULD hiss!
Whenever I see a male and female duck together, a memory of two similar ducks that used to sit in our front yard always comes to mind. Looking back now, I doubt they were always the same ducks. But I'd like to think they were. That's the thing about adulthood. So much of that innocent naivety dissapears.
But one day, I hope I can be like that male duck, and have the constant love and companionship of a female duck. And together, we can paddle through the waters of life, ready for whatever ripples or waves might come our way.
We might even have a trail of ducklings behind us....;)
A couple of kids just shouted over to me: "Hey! What's your name?" and "What are you writing?" I told them my name, and in response to the latter, I pointed to my temple and said "What's up here." They just walked over to the pond and scared some of the geese away. lol Somehow, I get the feeling this park has been in good hands these past ten years.
What amazes me is that a few years ago, I might not have even acknowleged them. But I think it's important that adults be as friedly to eachother as possible, and even moreso to kids. If kids knew that most adults were kind, generous people who are there for them, I get the feeling we'd have a few less problems in this world.
Center School
One of the very first things that strikes me about Center School is how much it's shrunk. This place used to be a lot bigger, and a lot scarier.
The second thing that hits me, is that so much of it is the same. One portion of the playground looks like it was born straight out of my memories. Granted, they've added two new swing sets, painted some stuff, and this second branch of equipment doesn't look very familiar. But this first one.....I can't even believe it. It's all the same. It's like it hasn't even been touched since I left it.
This whole place just reeks of Adam. At least in my mind. A decade-long friendship was forged on this playground. On this gravel. On those annoying little pebbles that always got stuck in your shoes. I'm trying to find the spot where he had Steve Turnok in some sort of leg vine, and Turnok kept yelling "let go of my leg!!" lol
The big slide that Donny Dalige fell off of in second grade is gone. The walk, jog, and run track is gone too, replaced by some kind of garage/shed. Half of it is still there at least.
It's amazing how things change. But it's also amazing how much they stay the same.
*****
Villiage Square Park
This park really doesn't look that much different than the one in Eagle Ridge. It's even got the same kinda stumpy barbeque grill.
There's a blue slide here that I remember. It used to be red.
The tennis court, basketball court, and the big gravely area with the mesh hood where kids play baseball, all look familiar. Even some of the trees look familiar. I wonder how long they've been here. Since 1986, when this park was dedicated? Or are some of these trees even older than me?
Ah, the tiny hill. This sparks a memory. It's really nothing but a little dip in the ground as you're on your way to the pond. But this thing has my footprints all over it, I think Mark and I actually ran up it as we were desperately feeling that Park District activity. lol
Did I ever play t-ball here? I think I did. Man, I was so bad at t-ball. Granted, I doubt that there are a lot of kids out there that have really mastered it, but I just remember I wasn't very good. I guess that's why I'm not much of a sporty guy. I can play sports, sure, but I don't accell at them. I'd much rather work hard at things I accell at, like writing and journalism. These are areas I know I can improve in. Wheras I'll always suck at football.
Yeah, I definitely played t-ball or baseball here. Though I'm pretty sure it was baseball. There are ghosts of me all across this field. Even at this pond, which I haven't see in years. The water smells so good, so natural, so fresh. It reminds me of our trips to Lake Michigan. This smell was there too.
Sitting here, I'm reminded of the time Grandpa Carroll took Scott and I fishing at the pond off 104th. Grandpa Carroll was always so sweet to us. He always called me his "ol' buddy." I used to hate leaving their old house in St. Louis, because they were always so great. Only now am I being told that they never really got along as a couple. My Mom told Aunt Jan the other day: "They've been married for 59 years, and have been fighting for 58 and a half." I never would have suspected it.
Grandpa Carroll has alsheimers now, a condition I sometimes feel like I already have. I just hope he can be brave...
There's all these geese and ducks sitting at the pond's lip. A goose actually hissed at me when I went to get Star Wars tickets. Can you believe that? Eric and I also had one hiss at us at the midnight show. I didn't even know geese COULD hiss!
Whenever I see a male and female duck together, a memory of two similar ducks that used to sit in our front yard always comes to mind. Looking back now, I doubt they were always the same ducks. But I'd like to think they were. That's the thing about adulthood. So much of that innocent naivety dissapears.
But one day, I hope I can be like that male duck, and have the constant love and companionship of a female duck. And together, we can paddle through the waters of life, ready for whatever ripples or waves might come our way.
We might even have a trail of ducklings behind us....;)
A couple of kids just shouted over to me: "Hey! What's your name?" and "What are you writing?" I told them my name, and in response to the latter, I pointed to my temple and said "What's up here." They just walked over to the pond and scared some of the geese away. lol Somehow, I get the feeling this park has been in good hands these past ten years.
What amazes me is that a few years ago, I might not have even acknowleged them. But I think it's important that adults be as friedly to eachother as possible, and even moreso to kids. If kids knew that most adults were kind, generous people who are there for them, I get the feeling we'd have a few less problems in this world.
Center School
One of the very first things that strikes me about Center School is how much it's shrunk. This place used to be a lot bigger, and a lot scarier.
The second thing that hits me, is that so much of it is the same. One portion of the playground looks like it was born straight out of my memories. Granted, they've added two new swing sets, painted some stuff, and this second branch of equipment doesn't look very familiar. But this first one.....I can't even believe it. It's all the same. It's like it hasn't even been touched since I left it.
This whole place just reeks of Adam. At least in my mind. A decade-long friendship was forged on this playground. On this gravel. On those annoying little pebbles that always got stuck in your shoes. I'm trying to find the spot where he had Steve Turnok in some sort of leg vine, and Turnok kept yelling "let go of my leg!!" lol
The big slide that Donny Dalige fell off of in second grade is gone. The walk, jog, and run track is gone too, replaced by some kind of garage/shed. Half of it is still there at least.
It's amazing how things change. But it's also amazing how much they stay the same.