Celebrating Nature and Community

Dawn rises over our city. The oppressive heat and humidity of yesterday is gone. The rush of yesterday’s work day forgotten.

Delivery people toss newspapers that plop on cool, concrete steps. Joggers and dog walkers nod at each other on the streets as they slowly wake up. Buildings catch the early sun and fill the dark alleys with light. People linger in bed with windows open wide to let in the fresh breeze and the sounds of birds chirping. Lovers hold hands as they walk along the shore, remembering the sweetness of last night.

Street vendors roll their carts into place and begin to warm hot dogs and chorizo, Italian sausage, satay, and burritos. They ready their ice cream bars and shaved ice cones.

Cars bring people in from the suburbs to fill the large open fields by the lake. City buses bring people in. Trains bring people in. People walk in from their neighborhoods. The river flows through the city and joins the lake. And the happy sounds of the city grow as the people come in to celebrate our community.

Children race across the grass as their parents spread picnics on blankets. There are pick-up games of basketball and soccer. Frisbees glide on the air. Musicians gather on corners and under the trees to play the sweet and sad songs of their ancestors and the songs that rise from their hearts this morning. The rhythms of steel drums and bodhrans, the melodies of guitars and the haunting Andean flutes. Shuffleboard and chess, dashikis and yamulkes, laughter, dreadlocks.

The smell of corn roasting in the husk fills the warm afternoon air.

People dance as couples. People dance in wheelchairs. They dance in groups, they dance with their dogs, and some dance alone, raising their faces to the sun in gratitude. Kites soar up on the breeze. Big ships sway on waves in the harbor. Boats with orange and yellow sails go by.  Rowboats and red kayaks go by. Faces are painted with imaginary blue creatures with whiskers, and toes are painted in a rainbow of colors.

The city dances and sings today, giving thanks for this glorious weather. Old folks and young people dance. People with cancer smile and dance because today they feel good. People with Alzheimer’s dance, so present to this moment of joy.

People of so many cultures are singing and dancing together on this beautiful, gorgeous, most amazing day outdoors.