You really do not know what a day will bring... In fact, just this morning when I came back from my walk, I got a phone call from Geo as I was eating cherries in the orchard before coming all the way to the house. He said, "Lisa, come here, I want to show you something."
I was eating cherries at the time, in fact, I had only eaten about two, and I replied as any person who did not want to be bothered at the moment would. I said, " What?"
Geo said, "I found something."
I said, "What?"
He said, "Something."
"What is it?" I said, munching another cherry.
"A small dinosaur," came his response.
Now, you'd have to know George. He likes to give answers that other people would least expect, but he did pique my curiosity so I went towards where he was as I hung up the phone, wondering what it was he could have possibly "found."
"A lizard?" I asked.
"No, bigger than that."
"Hmmm, I wondered as met up with him hoping to see what I could see."
"It's over there...."
I looked and there in the fenced in area where our chickens are I saw a huge, (maybe 3 feet high, I'd say,) dark mass moving about.
"Small dinosaur?" I thought to myself taking a closer look now that I knew what to look at.
"What is it?" I said, as I saw what I saw, barely believing what it was that my eyes did see. I knew what it was, but I was not believing it was true...
"It's an emu." he said.
So, it was not really a small dinosaur, but I have to admit, the two toed scaly feet of the emu do remind me of dinosaurs that you see in picture books. I will also say that I am quite impressed with the bird, who seems to have a very sweet disposition. After spending the day observing him, I now think that emus are really kind of neat.
But I like birds anyhow.
I certainly never espected to have an emu in my life, up close and personal like this... and I have more stories to tell about how I spent my day trying to find the emus owner...but I wont tell them now. I am just amazed at how I woke up this morning looking forward to another day, but I never in a hundered million years expected to havean encounter with an emu... would you?
See, you just never really know what a day will bring!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Learn Chinese Quick
I love Chinese food and the oriental cultures. The Chinese language is also very interesting to me. It's sounds are interesting, and sometimes us English speaking folks wonder how the Chinese do it. Sometimes we just want to try to sound the same, however I am sure it takes many years of practice to get it right.
I have a friend named Onie, who is not Chinese, but she sent me this information a long time ago, so that I could LEARN CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES. Because I enjoyed it so much, I thought I would post it here. I think it is quite remarkable how one can play with words and word sounds from language to language, so here is some language humor for today.
Here ya go.
I have a friend named Onie, who is not Chinese, but she sent me this information a long time ago, so that I could LEARN CHINESE IN 5 MINUTES. Because I enjoyed it so much, I thought I would post it here. I think it is quite remarkable how one can play with words and word sounds from language to language, so here is some language humor for today.
Here ya go.
English / Chinese
That's not right...............Sum Ting Wong
Are you harboring a fugitive?.................Hu Yu Hai Ding?
See me ASAP.......................Kum Hia Nao
Stupid Man................Dum Gai
Small Horse..........Tai Ni Po Ni
Did you go to the beach?....Wai Yu So Tan?
I bumped into a coffee table......Ai Bang Mai Ni
I think you need a face lift........Chin Tu Fat
It's very dark in here........Wai So Dim?
This is a tow away zone........No Pah King
Our meeting is scheduled for next week..Wai Yu Kum Nao?
Staying out of sight....Lei Ying Lo
He's cleaning his automobile......Wa Shing Ka
and my very favorite one of all....
I thought you were on a diet...Wai Yu Mun Ching?
That's not right...............Sum Ting Wong
Are you harboring a fugitive?.................Hu Yu Hai Ding?
See me ASAP.......................Kum Hia Nao
Stupid Man................Dum Gai
Small Horse..........Tai Ni Po Ni
Did you go to the beach?....Wai Yu So Tan?
I bumped into a coffee table......Ai Bang Mai Ni
I think you need a face lift........Chin Tu Fat
It's very dark in here........Wai So Dim?
This is a tow away zone........No Pah King
Our meeting is scheduled for next week..Wai Yu Kum Nao?
Staying out of sight....Lei Ying Lo
He's cleaning his automobile......Wa Shing Ka
and my very favorite one of all....
I thought you were on a diet...Wai Yu Mun Ching?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Railroad Maps and Rowboat Oars
I just got back from a couple of days of recreation and relaxation at a local lake with friends. (I am so spoiled!... I actually spent two whole days away from family and with about 15 my women friends, and even made some new ones!.) Ages 40-90 were represented in the group, and we certainly had a wonderful time. Some of the ladies stayed the whole designated time, some came for just a day, others just for a little while, and one was unable to attend because she was sick....
: (
....It was a wonderful time as we gathered to simply spend time together away from our normal "busy" and separate lives and with each other, and this in particular for the purpose of talking and sharing about God. For me, it was kinda like being with family, maybe like spending time with a bunch of sisters.
It was a lot of fun. We could go out on the lake in a canoe, kayak or raft, trampoline, relax in a hammock, go for walks, play games or drive to the nearby town or just visit with friends. We did a lot of visiting and eating of each other's cooking. I think I gained ten pounds! It was great to be able to spend some time with each and all of them and do some things together. I spent some of my time crocheting, which was fun for me and I took a lot of photographs as well. I like to take pictures too.
Some of the ladies went for a walk and came back telling of a garage sale they happened to descend upon and the many treasures they found within. Their adventure was a hoot! There were a couple of car trips to a nearby museum and store too. We also each painted T-shirts, (This is become a sort of tradition for this group to do on these weekends) which is a fun activity too. I like it because it brings out the creativity in each of us while we are all doing the same thing. We are women of all different ages, all different walks of life, and places in our walk with God. I found it quite remarkable to think that we had all been brought together for this time by God, and I loved being part of all he was doing, not only in others, but in me.
One of the things I go to do which I really enjoyed was a visit to a neighbors house, one that had a lot of history with the woman who owned the house where we stayed. I loved it because as she showed us her house it had so many history stories that went with each of the items she had chosen to decorate her house with. Many of them were antiques, each with a history all their own. As some of the ladies in our group were antiques too, seeing such things brought back memories of their own youth. I liked the fact that many of the items in this ladies home, had histories that were quite personal to her.
She told us their stories too as were gazed upon railroad maps and rowboat oars, remnants of her youth with friends and family at the lake. There was a claw footed tub bought from a hotel in Spokane where her mother used to work, in fact her mom used to work at the hotel, her job- to keep them clean. She thought of her mother often when she cleaned her own tub now.
In the Frog Room, there was a cabinet full of items which were once sunken treasures hidden in the lake, once lost items that her husband, who was a scuba diver, had one by one (or maybe two,) over may years of diving, had retrieved. I could not help but think of all the stories each item itself could possibly contain and that the room of a real live frogman had been so appropriately named.
The most intriguing item on the tour however, was three framed bathing suits she had upon the wall in the lakeside living room. One was a woman's suit and bathing cap, the other two were men's 1960 styled trunks. She told us that these had belonged to "Mom" and "Dad" and to a neighbor, she referred to formally as "Mr. ..." (a man whose last name I now forget.)
I imagine that at a lake you pretty much live in your bathing suit, at least in the summer months...swimming, splashing, fishing, boating, water skiing, rowing... scuba diving, and I imagine that a suit becomes very much a part of who you are, especially in the eyes of a child. But now growing up a\round lakes or water, I was struck with awe over how a bathing suit, of all things, would be such an identifier of who or what a person was.
I imagine that the swim suit was what these girls always saw these men who rescued them and kept them safe and told them stories and taught them things were always wearing at the lake. I imagine that it was a profound identifier for them. I am intrigued at how the people who wore these suits, now empty, had left more than the suits, behind; they left a legacy to these young girls, now women who obviously thought of "mom" and "dad" and Mr. ...." with high regard, fondness and love.
Many a season had come and gone at the lake. The people who wore these suits, once young and thin, had aged, and even died, but there at the lake where they had lived so much of their lives and touched the lives of so many people, their swim suits not only still hung up almost as if they were hung out on the line to dry as they had done year after year... but now they were framed.
I found this intriguing. I was most intrigued to discover that it wasn't her "dad" that she affectionately referred to, but to the father of our weekend hostess.
As we continued the tour, listening to stories, I gathered from all the conversation that this man called "dad" had been a kind and loving father figure for many people at the lake, and in this woman's life when she was young. She called him "dad" several times throughout the tour. He was my other friend's father, but he was no doubt a "dad" to her as well. I was moved in my spirit to consider that both of these women, not related biologically to one another, looked up to this man and called him "dad."
The weekend at the lakeside was a great time and I loved every minute of it. I did especially enjoy the house tour, but it was all special to me. Mostly I enjoyed the time spent with these women who in many ways' are more than friend, even like sisters in the Lord. It was perhaps a little like maybe what a happy family reunion would be like; no agenda-just time together.
As I think of the swim suits framed, I think it's an example of how Christians view the cross of Jesus Christ. It's empty... like the swim trunk, but there is no doubt, he left a legacy behind.
Those who knew Jesus as he lived his life on earth, knew him well. He was a man of unusual caliber, a man of a special kind. He was lake man, a fisher of men, one who stilled a raging storm at sea and even walked on water, some have said. The man Jesus, crucified on the cross, like the men who wore those suits hanging on the wall, will long be remembered, thought of and talked about for like them, He has no-doubt touched many people's lives.
It was fun to be with just women. It was kinda like we are sisters when we get together and it is Jesus, in some way or another, who had brought all of us women there, to the lake to be together.
It was Jesus, that I was thinking of at the lake with this group of Christian friends, relaxing.. playing games, sipping coffee, collecting tiny pebbles as I walked along the beach. I know that it's a special relationship Christian's have with Jesus, and that they subsequently share with one another. I think it's rather remarkable too, that as Christians who know Jesus and who fellowship in light of his teaching and in remembrance of His death on our behalf, we all call God, "Our Father, who art in heaven, but more importantly, we who love him, because he loves us and cares for us, can simply call him, "Dad."
: (
....It was a wonderful time as we gathered to simply spend time together away from our normal "busy" and separate lives and with each other, and this in particular for the purpose of talking and sharing about God. For me, it was kinda like being with family, maybe like spending time with a bunch of sisters.
It was a lot of fun. We could go out on the lake in a canoe, kayak or raft, trampoline, relax in a hammock, go for walks, play games or drive to the nearby town or just visit with friends. We did a lot of visiting and eating of each other's cooking. I think I gained ten pounds! It was great to be able to spend some time with each and all of them and do some things together. I spent some of my time crocheting, which was fun for me and I took a lot of photographs as well. I like to take pictures too.
Some of the ladies went for a walk and came back telling of a garage sale they happened to descend upon and the many treasures they found within. Their adventure was a hoot! There were a couple of car trips to a nearby museum and store too. We also each painted T-shirts, (This is become a sort of tradition for this group to do on these weekends) which is a fun activity too. I like it because it brings out the creativity in each of us while we are all doing the same thing. We are women of all different ages, all different walks of life, and places in our walk with God. I found it quite remarkable to think that we had all been brought together for this time by God, and I loved being part of all he was doing, not only in others, but in me.
One of the things I go to do which I really enjoyed was a visit to a neighbors house, one that had a lot of history with the woman who owned the house where we stayed. I loved it because as she showed us her house it had so many history stories that went with each of the items she had chosen to decorate her house with. Many of them were antiques, each with a history all their own. As some of the ladies in our group were antiques too, seeing such things brought back memories of their own youth. I liked the fact that many of the items in this ladies home, had histories that were quite personal to her.
She told us their stories too as were gazed upon railroad maps and rowboat oars, remnants of her youth with friends and family at the lake. There was a claw footed tub bought from a hotel in Spokane where her mother used to work, in fact her mom used to work at the hotel, her job- to keep them clean. She thought of her mother often when she cleaned her own tub now.
In the Frog Room, there was a cabinet full of items which were once sunken treasures hidden in the lake, once lost items that her husband, who was a scuba diver, had one by one (or maybe two,) over may years of diving, had retrieved. I could not help but think of all the stories each item itself could possibly contain and that the room of a real live frogman had been so appropriately named.
The most intriguing item on the tour however, was three framed bathing suits she had upon the wall in the lakeside living room. One was a woman's suit and bathing cap, the other two were men's 1960 styled trunks. She told us that these had belonged to "Mom" and "Dad" and to a neighbor, she referred to formally as "Mr. ..." (a man whose last name I now forget.)
I imagine that at a lake you pretty much live in your bathing suit, at least in the summer months...swimming, splashing, fishing, boating, water skiing, rowing... scuba diving, and I imagine that a suit becomes very much a part of who you are, especially in the eyes of a child. But now growing up a\round lakes or water, I was struck with awe over how a bathing suit, of all things, would be such an identifier of who or what a person was.
I imagine that the swim suit was what these girls always saw these men who rescued them and kept them safe and told them stories and taught them things were always wearing at the lake. I imagine that it was a profound identifier for them. I am intrigued at how the people who wore these suits, now empty, had left more than the suits, behind; they left a legacy to these young girls, now women who obviously thought of "mom" and "dad" and Mr. ...." with high regard, fondness and love.
Many a season had come and gone at the lake. The people who wore these suits, once young and thin, had aged, and even died, but there at the lake where they had lived so much of their lives and touched the lives of so many people, their swim suits not only still hung up almost as if they were hung out on the line to dry as they had done year after year... but now they were framed.
I found this intriguing. I was most intrigued to discover that it wasn't her "dad" that she affectionately referred to, but to the father of our weekend hostess.
As we continued the tour, listening to stories, I gathered from all the conversation that this man called "dad" had been a kind and loving father figure for many people at the lake, and in this woman's life when she was young. She called him "dad" several times throughout the tour. He was my other friend's father, but he was no doubt a "dad" to her as well. I was moved in my spirit to consider that both of these women, not related biologically to one another, looked up to this man and called him "dad."
The weekend at the lakeside was a great time and I loved every minute of it. I did especially enjoy the house tour, but it was all special to me. Mostly I enjoyed the time spent with these women who in many ways' are more than friend, even like sisters in the Lord. It was perhaps a little like maybe what a happy family reunion would be like; no agenda-just time together.
As I think of the swim suits framed, I think it's an example of how Christians view the cross of Jesus Christ. It's empty... like the swim trunk, but there is no doubt, he left a legacy behind.
Those who knew Jesus as he lived his life on earth, knew him well. He was a man of unusual caliber, a man of a special kind. He was lake man, a fisher of men, one who stilled a raging storm at sea and even walked on water, some have said. The man Jesus, crucified on the cross, like the men who wore those suits hanging on the wall, will long be remembered, thought of and talked about for like them, He has no-doubt touched many people's lives.
It was fun to be with just women. It was kinda like we are sisters when we get together and it is Jesus, in some way or another, who had brought all of us women there, to the lake to be together.
It was Jesus, that I was thinking of at the lake with this group of Christian friends, relaxing.. playing games, sipping coffee, collecting tiny pebbles as I walked along the beach. I know that it's a special relationship Christian's have with Jesus, and that they subsequently share with one another. I think it's rather remarkable too, that as Christians who know Jesus and who fellowship in light of his teaching and in remembrance of His death on our behalf, we all call God, "Our Father, who art in heaven, but more importantly, we who love him, because he loves us and cares for us, can simply call him, "Dad."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
A Walk in the Park
Saturday evening we decided to go for a walk downtown at Riverfront Park, and it turned out to be quite an adventure as Geo and I took to the city streets to see what was happening in the heart of Spokane.
Riverfront Park is beautiful. I mean, there is something really special about a park in the middle of the city where people can walk around and relax, pal around with friends and bring the kids and have many activities to choose from while they are there or simply choose to do nothing but watch the world go by. Riverfront is one of those places.
Probably the most spectacular thing about the place is the river than runs through it and the numerous bridges you can cross from which you can view the churning, rapidly flowing waters. There's hills, trees and green grass too, but in addition to the natural beauty there is also a ferris wheel ride, an Imax theater, a gondola ride across the river, a carousel, and an amusement center as well as a new water fountain people can walk and play in. There is also the convention center and symphony hall that is part of the park, and this is all adjacent to the downtown theaters and mall. It's kinda neat that we have such a place as this to visit.
There were a lot of people who think that too. We were amazed that so many people were there. There were pedestrians, skaters and bicyclists tooling about the place, enjoying the beautiful weather.
I watched one bicyclist bit the dust as his bike fell from two feet high. He landed on his back against the concrete as he was attempting to do a stupid bike trick on the bridge, his friend doing the same thing on the other side, but without the fall. He was apparently uninjured; probably sore the next day though. As I watched, I was thinking, that in another day and age, doing what he and his friend were doing, (riding their bikes up the side of the bridge and flipping around to come back down,) would be unacceptable behavior, thought of at a defacement of public property or a safety hazard.
When what appeared to be a park service truck drove directly past the two (who BTW were adults) without saying anything to them about their activity on the bridge, I couldn't help but think of how complacent we have become as a society. I would have thought that maybe the bikers would see the park authorities and move on, but they didn't. I also thought maybe the park authority would suggest to the two that they stop riding their bikes up the support to the bridge; but there was no change in behavior. everyone just minded their own business.
I know that the bridge was not constructed so people can do bike stunts, and certainly the tire marks that the bikes left behind are unattractive. I also do not think that park personnel want to spend time cleaning the bridge, or that the city will pay them to clean the tire tracks off or repaint the bridge anytime soon. Such is the disintegration of not only a nice city park, but of a society. You do not see it happen all at once, but little by little the damage takes place. No one addresses the issue, no one bothers to clean up the mess, and the next thing you know, the dilapidation that has taken place has had a lot of time to set in and it becomes overwhelming.
After walking around the park we ventured to the city streets. When I see the architecture of buildings I cannot help but think about the people who built such amazing things. I was looking at a stone building, wondering how each was so perfectly cut and laid, one atop another, designed to create the postal facility. A man in a security uniform walked past me and I began to think about the many people who have made the city their home in days gone by, walked the very streets, past the very stores on these same sidewalks years ago.
We walked past the Bing Crosby Theater, (which I knew until the recent name change (2006) as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center or "MET") to the Martin Woldson Theater, (which I knew until the recent name change (2007) as "the Fox" Theater.) this only after walking around in circles trying to follow directions on a GPS device.
When we (finally) arrived the doors were locked, but a man was coming out as we were attempting to go in and we asked him about who it was that was preforming. He told us that it was a band called The Wallflowers playing, a band we never heard of before, and he offered us an unused ticket as well as the stub he had used to get in, asking the now attending the door activity usher if we could use his tickets. The usher let us and we went in and found some seats in the dark, art deco theater.
The crowd was subdued but engaged in the music, and the man on stage singing sounded a little like Bob Dylan, but the experience was a little like watching a PBS concert series on TV and kinda boring in that regard, so we listened to a few songs and decided to go out and walk some more. Later we found out from our daughters who happened to be at the same show and who had obtained complimentary tickets from a band member because she took a photo for the band while in Riverfront Park that day, that the lead singer of the band was Bob Dylans son.
We rightly reasoned that this why probably why we thought he sounded like Bob Dylan and concluded that with this information we had a whole new appreciation for the musical experience. The girls enjoyed the concert and stayed for the whole time, meanwhile were were walking. We caught up with them later in the evening and then when home.
But before we went home, while we were still walking, we met up with some of our younger friends( and made some new friends too,) who apparently have made the park a regular hang-out. They were having fun or so they thought, with friends, just being kids. Obviously struggling to figure out life and who they were, who they would become, seeing where and with whom they fit in. I could relate so well, not only to their youthful folly, but to the struggle of understanding this thing called life and life in the world some of them must be in.
There were many people downtown, all apparently doing their own thing. Some strutted about with wild hairdo's and costume-like attire, seeking to draw attention or maybe simply make some kind of statement about themselves by the way they appeared to others in the crowd. Tattoos, piercings, trench coats, halter tops, black lace, hair, guitars, skateboards, cigarettes; the walk downtown was quite a show.
Spokane is not so innocent a city. Watch the news. Gang members, thieves, prostitutes, drug pushers, child molesters, murders, rapists and vagabonds abound. They abound even moreso today than they did when I was a child, growing up in an inner city area. I kinda think that it's because so few are willing to correct the bad behavior. I never thought I would see so called "adult" aka erotica stores on the main street in Spokane, but they are there and they have been there a while. My guess is that they are there because people in our fine city are willing to frequent them and keep them in business.
We had walked past several martini bars and taverns. There were several loud head-banging type concerts in town that night. I saw a poster advertising for a band called GodSmack (of all things to call yourself... and what does it mean? ?Slap God in the face? ) and we even saw a seven-foot inflatable male body part paraded in a crowd outside one establishment as we escorted one daughter to her parked car. I imagine the scenes of nightlife in Spokane were much like that which was taking place in other cities, maybe even kinda like Bangkok, Calcutta, New York or San Francisco, only on a smaller scale.
As I headed back to my little, now seemingly boring and quiet little house in the suburbs, the city lightss receded; the skyline grew dark. Overhead I saw the stars.
I couldn't help but contemplate a passerbys conversation I had overheard that evening in the park as two young men in their early twenties greeted each other and began talking. It was obvious that their lives had crossed each other's... unexpectantly... once more;
"So, where are you sleeping these days?"
To which the other young man replied, "City Park."
Riverfront Park is beautiful. I mean, there is something really special about a park in the middle of the city where people can walk around and relax, pal around with friends and bring the kids and have many activities to choose from while they are there or simply choose to do nothing but watch the world go by. Riverfront is one of those places.
Probably the most spectacular thing about the place is the river than runs through it and the numerous bridges you can cross from which you can view the churning, rapidly flowing waters. There's hills, trees and green grass too, but in addition to the natural beauty there is also a ferris wheel ride, an Imax theater, a gondola ride across the river, a carousel, and an amusement center as well as a new water fountain people can walk and play in. There is also the convention center and symphony hall that is part of the park, and this is all adjacent to the downtown theaters and mall. It's kinda neat that we have such a place as this to visit.
There were a lot of people who think that too. We were amazed that so many people were there. There were pedestrians, skaters and bicyclists tooling about the place, enjoying the beautiful weather.
I watched one bicyclist bit the dust as his bike fell from two feet high. He landed on his back against the concrete as he was attempting to do a stupid bike trick on the bridge, his friend doing the same thing on the other side, but without the fall. He was apparently uninjured; probably sore the next day though. As I watched, I was thinking, that in another day and age, doing what he and his friend were doing, (riding their bikes up the side of the bridge and flipping around to come back down,) would be unacceptable behavior, thought of at a defacement of public property or a safety hazard.
When what appeared to be a park service truck drove directly past the two (who BTW were adults) without saying anything to them about their activity on the bridge, I couldn't help but think of how complacent we have become as a society. I would have thought that maybe the bikers would see the park authorities and move on, but they didn't. I also thought maybe the park authority would suggest to the two that they stop riding their bikes up the support to the bridge; but there was no change in behavior. everyone just minded their own business.
I know that the bridge was not constructed so people can do bike stunts, and certainly the tire marks that the bikes left behind are unattractive. I also do not think that park personnel want to spend time cleaning the bridge, or that the city will pay them to clean the tire tracks off or repaint the bridge anytime soon. Such is the disintegration of not only a nice city park, but of a society. You do not see it happen all at once, but little by little the damage takes place. No one addresses the issue, no one bothers to clean up the mess, and the next thing you know, the dilapidation that has taken place has had a lot of time to set in and it becomes overwhelming.
After walking around the park we ventured to the city streets. When I see the architecture of buildings I cannot help but think about the people who built such amazing things. I was looking at a stone building, wondering how each was so perfectly cut and laid, one atop another, designed to create the postal facility. A man in a security uniform walked past me and I began to think about the many people who have made the city their home in days gone by, walked the very streets, past the very stores on these same sidewalks years ago.
We walked past the Bing Crosby Theater, (which I knew until the recent name change (2006) as the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center or "MET") to the Martin Woldson Theater, (which I knew until the recent name change (2007) as "the Fox" Theater.) this only after walking around in circles trying to follow directions on a GPS device.
When we (finally) arrived the doors were locked, but a man was coming out as we were attempting to go in and we asked him about who it was that was preforming. He told us that it was a band called The Wallflowers playing, a band we never heard of before, and he offered us an unused ticket as well as the stub he had used to get in, asking the now attending the door activity usher if we could use his tickets. The usher let us and we went in and found some seats in the dark, art deco theater.
The crowd was subdued but engaged in the music, and the man on stage singing sounded a little like Bob Dylan, but the experience was a little like watching a PBS concert series on TV and kinda boring in that regard, so we listened to a few songs and decided to go out and walk some more. Later we found out from our daughters who happened to be at the same show and who had obtained complimentary tickets from a band member because she took a photo for the band while in Riverfront Park that day, that the lead singer of the band was Bob Dylans son.
We rightly reasoned that this why probably why we thought he sounded like Bob Dylan and concluded that with this information we had a whole new appreciation for the musical experience. The girls enjoyed the concert and stayed for the whole time, meanwhile were were walking. We caught up with them later in the evening and then when home.
But before we went home, while we were still walking, we met up with some of our younger friends( and made some new friends too,) who apparently have made the park a regular hang-out. They were having fun or so they thought, with friends, just being kids. Obviously struggling to figure out life and who they were, who they would become, seeing where and with whom they fit in. I could relate so well, not only to their youthful folly, but to the struggle of understanding this thing called life and life in the world some of them must be in.
There were many people downtown, all apparently doing their own thing. Some strutted about with wild hairdo's and costume-like attire, seeking to draw attention or maybe simply make some kind of statement about themselves by the way they appeared to others in the crowd. Tattoos, piercings, trench coats, halter tops, black lace, hair, guitars, skateboards, cigarettes; the walk downtown was quite a show.
Spokane is not so innocent a city. Watch the news. Gang members, thieves, prostitutes, drug pushers, child molesters, murders, rapists and vagabonds abound. They abound even moreso today than they did when I was a child, growing up in an inner city area. I kinda think that it's because so few are willing to correct the bad behavior. I never thought I would see so called "adult" aka erotica stores on the main street in Spokane, but they are there and they have been there a while. My guess is that they are there because people in our fine city are willing to frequent them and keep them in business.
We had walked past several martini bars and taverns. There were several loud head-banging type concerts in town that night. I saw a poster advertising for a band called GodSmack (of all things to call yourself... and what does it mean? ?Slap God in the face? ) and we even saw a seven-foot inflatable male body part paraded in a crowd outside one establishment as we escorted one daughter to her parked car. I imagine the scenes of nightlife in Spokane were much like that which was taking place in other cities, maybe even kinda like Bangkok, Calcutta, New York or San Francisco, only on a smaller scale.
As I headed back to my little, now seemingly boring and quiet little house in the suburbs, the city lightss receded; the skyline grew dark. Overhead I saw the stars.
I couldn't help but contemplate a passerbys conversation I had overheard that evening in the park as two young men in their early twenties greeted each other and began talking. It was obvious that their lives had crossed each other's... unexpectantly... once more;
"So, where are you sleeping these days?"
To which the other young man replied, "City Park."
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Walk in the Desert
While in Arizona, Geo and I went for a desert walk along a snake path. No, not literal snakes, although we did see holes in the ground like what you find where snakes do usually live. This was a sidewalk in the shape of a snake, complete with a head and rattle. It was a giant sidewalk rattlesnake.
All along the snake were sidepaths. These were simply trails of dirt that went off in different directions along the main trail into what I will call a story centers or to a picnic table. The story centers had short stories engraved on stone surrounded by interesting steel sculptures of whatever the particular story for that area was, usually a creature of the desert... a coyote, butterflies, things like that. It was fun to sightsee and read the little tales as we walked around.
The best part though was seeing all the desert wildlife. Besides the vast array of cacti in bloom, we saw wrens, a woodpecker, chipmunks, rabbits, lizards, bees, ants, and a family of quail as we walked this little trail, reminding me that there is an abundance of life in the desert. The quail were particularly interesting because it was a male and a female with about fourteen little ones flocked together.
We explored the trail and enjoyed the artwork, especially the main large snake that made the winding path we followed. Starting at the coiled part of the rattle, as if walking along "the Yellow Brick Road, (like the movie Wizard of Oz) we ended up... on it's head.
All along the snake were sidepaths. These were simply trails of dirt that went off in different directions along the main trail into what I will call a story centers or to a picnic table. The story centers had short stories engraved on stone surrounded by interesting steel sculptures of whatever the particular story for that area was, usually a creature of the desert... a coyote, butterflies, things like that. It was fun to sightsee and read the little tales as we walked around.
The best part though was seeing all the desert wildlife. Besides the vast array of cacti in bloom, we saw wrens, a woodpecker, chipmunks, rabbits, lizards, bees, ants, and a family of quail as we walked this little trail, reminding me that there is an abundance of life in the desert. The quail were particularly interesting because it was a male and a female with about fourteen little ones flocked together.
We explored the trail and enjoyed the artwork, especially the main large snake that made the winding path we followed. Starting at the coiled part of the rattle, as if walking along "the Yellow Brick Road, (like the movie Wizard of Oz) we ended up... on it's head.
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