The moment my foot hit the flagstone path leading from my front door, I felt a vibration; with each step, a pulsing sensation coming from where I didn’t understand. As my walk toward Balboa Park continued, I found my pace quicken as a Friday night frenzy set forth. An energy, a buzz, a sizzle in the air, on the streets, in the canyons.
Green shoots of springtime everywhere.
Like a bear emerging from hibernation, a semblance of normal sauntered in slowly beginning Tuesday with the move from purple to the red tier. Wednesday, then Thursday, an acceleration. Friday, full speed ahead.
Each turn I took, down First, East on Nutmeg, south on Fifth, all the way to the park, I could feel a rumble, like a drum roll. Vitality, excitement, even some hilarity as the city opened once again and people gathered. Weekend time.
Restaurants, shuttered for seasons, bulged inside and out; a cheeky server bounced by with a tray of Sushi for sidewalk diners. A trio of tenors serenaded over Italian fare, marinara sauce, garlic bread. Ice clinked in glasses. Glasses clinked in celebration.
No jacket required.
Runners ran around revelers. Two pretty girls moved in rhythm to the street musicians’ mini concert at the corner. Left onto a quiet side street no longer quiet; a crowd of raucous young partiers danced on a balcony to boisterous hip hop beats.
A Labradoodle and a black and white Husky frolicked on leashes as their owners chatted; dog tags jingled. Cheerful birds chirped as they flitted from tree to tree. Nest building time. The sky brimmed with puffy white cloud faces. Smiling, it seemed. Black and yellow Swallowtail butterflies on high; shimmering silvery leaves fluttered on tall Eucalyptus trees.
From an open window, a Maria Callas aria permeated the late afternoon ambiance.
A scampering rabbit swished into a nearby bush.
An older couple sat on a park bench, embracing.
TGIF.
More than Happy Hour.
More than Thank Goodness It’s Friday.
A glimpse of a long-ago life.
A hint of what is to come...
Hi Marilyn, You express this coming out process so beautifully!! You wrote everything I have been thinking and experiencing. It is truly a new and wonderful day. Thanks for your beautiful writing. xoxo RL
Love it! WE HAD FIRST EMERGENCE TO NORMALITY HERE AND AT THE CLUB FOUR HANDSOME SQUIRES AND DAINTY LITTLE US AM GETTING KIND OF DECREPIT FOR DOING COCKTAIL PARTIES PRIOR TO DINING BUT THE KIDS WERE HERE FROM MT SO JUST SAT THERE AND ENJOYED! A REAL UPBEAT AS IS YOURS TODAY OLD ONE
GOSH ! I don’t know either but what I do know is I like listening to the Doves and even a distance rooster isn’t sounds romantic. Maybe a trip to SM. 🐓MP
Living in Pauma, thru all of this,,best place to be. Steve
Hi Marilyn. Here's my poem inspired by your writing...
Seratonin
Late afternoon--on the patio
Only silence to be heard.
Leaves move-
make no sound
Poppies dance
to a silent song.
An angel in the sky
loses her wings.
The setting sun
casts lengthening shadows.
Mists rise, cover the trees.
A sliver moon peeks over the hills.
My world at rest.
I am content.
Mary Kay Gardner
... but the baby steps became giants when we could start hugging and kissing each other (my heart goes out to those that still can't) R. Salazar
I loved your coming out of Covid story and your walk to the park. It’s like I was there. I have the same Hoka shoes! JL