January 15, 2012

My Private Paradise

The city where I live built a wonderful little park for me. The winding walking trail begins across the street from my front door and progresses down a small hill. Tall trees stand guard as the trail leads to several small grassy areas with shorter trees, planters, boulders, and flowers. Soon they will fill my private paradise with new plants, trees, art, and a small foot bridge.

As I walk through the little park, I'm greeted by various birds. During the spring, summer, and fall, a trio of doves were always there to greet me and make my day brighter. Today a gaggle of geese looked at me briefly, then went about their business. When the weather is warmer, butterflies float across my path, and grasshoppers bound joyously in the distance. It's a place of peace. It's a place where I'm usually alone and can think.

The view from below.

Of course the city didn't build it just for me, but because I'm usually the only person walking through the park on any given day, it often feels as if they designed it with me in mind. Occasionally I'll cross paths with a wayward family riding bikes or out for an evening stroll, but usually it's all mine. I never thought I'd have my own park.

We all need special places that feel as if they're all ours. These little oases give us comfort and help us recharge our batteries so we can deal with the world in a civilized manner. They help those of us who are creative reconnect with our muses. My place is a park across the street. For others, it might be a busy coffee shop or a room in their home.

Now you know mine. I hope you have yours as well.

25 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Why did you delete your comment @Shay? What did you say? :)

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    2. I have a good reason @Tammy. :) See my comment below.

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  2. I like to go to a garden behind my church. Nobody ever goes there and it's quiet so I can sit and think. It's not good for winter so I go to a greenhouse then. :)

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    1. The garden sound lovely @Tammy. I used to go to a greenhouse at a park in the winter for lunch when I worked closer to it. They're wonderful places for escaping the winter blahs and getting an early dose of spring. :-)

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  3. I've been wracking my brain trying to think if there's anyplace special I go. And...there isn't. LOL! I mean, other than inside my head, which I can do almost anywhere: in traffic, at the airport, in the bathroom, showering, washing dishes. I've always sort of dreamed of a little alcove in a garden that was just for me. sigh.

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    1. I often escape inside my head too. It's very convenient for meetings. ;-) I always wanted a little garden alcove too. Mine would have a waterfall, because I love the sound. It's where I'd write every day it was warm enough.

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    2. @Christy: What a coincidence! I enjoy escaping inside your head too. <3

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  4. I liked reading about your park. :)

    I have a cozy place in my house that's all mine. Hubby understands. It has a rocking chair, window seat, lots of pillows, a small table so I can have tea. I like to curl up with my cat and look out the window when it rains. And I keep fresh flowers on the table. I love my spot.

    Hubby has his place too. He took over half of our garage and made it the place he does all his guy stuff. He has tools and chairs and tables and stuff. I don't really know what all he does there, but it makes him happy like my place makes me happy.

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    1. Your cozy place sounds wonderful @Michelle! Hubby's not so much. LOL! :-) Yours sounds like where I'd go to curl up and read. Very nice!

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    2. @Christy: Well of course Hubby's place doesn't appeal to you. It's a Man-Cave! I'd love a place like that. A room that had my drawing table in it, a table for building my model kits, stereo and TV set up out there, a little mini-fridge. Sigh.

      @Michelle: Both your guys' special places sound way cool. ;-) Truth be told, I'd probably have a soft, cozy corner set up in my manly-man space to read, drink coffee, play on my laptop, etc.

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  5. I used to have a place I liked to go but it was kind of ruined by someone else recently. I'll find another place. I like outside places a lot. Your park sounds really nice and peaceful. :)

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    1. @Denise: Your next place is going to be even better, and it's going to be all yours. ;-)

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  6. I like this post a lot. You paint a nice picture. Speaking of pictures. I love the picture of the clouds!

    I have a favorite spot too. I go there to read, play on G+, chat with people online, read blogs, etc. It's my spot and I love it! It's a secret! ;)

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    1. @Shay: HA! Believe it or not, I actually guessed why you deleted your other comment: Because you revealed a place you wanted to keep to yourself. And I think that's very cool. ;-)

      P.S. Christy took that beautiful cloud photo, by the way. :-)

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    2. Beautiful photo @Christy! Why so secret @Shay? :)

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    3. @Tammy: I know, for myself at least, if I had a place to "get away from it all", I wouldn't want everyone to know where it was because then they'd know where to find me when I didn't want to be found. I need my "me time". And when I'm in me time-mode, I don't want people to be able to hunt me down. But that's just me. ;-P

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    4. @Stevn I have too much me time. I dn't want anymore me time. I want time with somebody. I guess it makes sense. Maybe.

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    5. @Tammy: I had a wholllle lotta 'me time' yesterday. The power went out for over 24 hrs. from a storm. I had a whole day of 'me time' and nothing to do with it! Be careful what you wish for I guess...;-p

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  7. Awesome photo @Christy! Wowza! You really are a good photographer!

    I like to go to a little coffee shop near my house. There's something about it that makes me feel like I'm walking into my grandma's house. It's warm and inviting. Nice. :)

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    1. SEe. @Sarah shared her placed. @shay should have too.

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  8. Hello @Christy. Are you there? :) Is @Steven?

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    1. We're here! More or less. ;-P Been super-busy and the heat is kicking both our butts so we haven't been as diligent with our blogs lately.

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