Sometimes things from your past can be a good thing. Like last night, when Chris and I were returning from a dinner out with some friends and this came on:
Then there are other things, that turn out to be not so good. Like today, when we went out for a walk in a local park. Chris and I had both spent a lot of time there (separately) years ago, and it's the closest park to our current residence. It's also heavily shaded which we counted a plus, and it used to be free. When we made the decision to go today, there was a nice breeze blowing, the baby was awake and happy, and there were no storm clouds moving in (even though this is Florida's season for daily showers).
We got off to a good start.
Me: "Do we want the stroller or should we bring the baby carrier?"
Him: "Let's bring the baby carrier. She likes to sit up anyway."
A few minutes pass, filled with furious movement in order to capture the moment before it passed. Wardrobe changes all around (read: I put something other than my pajamas), bottle making, diaper bag filling, etc. We get everything all packed into the car including the baby when Chris asks:
Him: "Did you bring the baby carrier?"
Me: "Whoops."
He trotted back in and was out in a flash carrying the item in question. I'd really like to say in my defense that I've never actually forgotten the baby. I may have forgotten all matter of items from her vast array of baby paraphenalia but not the baby herself. It doesnt count until you leave the driveway, dammit.
Somewhere between the time I turned the ignition in the car to leave and our arrival to the park the breeze decided to take itself elsewhere. Then, as we rolled into the parking space we were confronted with this:
If we'd had an ounce of sense we would have taken it for the omen that it was. Alas, as only new parents can be, we were too excited by the prospect of taking our baby to a favorite spot from our youth.
It had been many years since Chris and I had actually been there. It's a tiny park near a local airport and if you dont know it's there you would probably miss it. As luck would have it, we found it on the first pass and were a bit disappointed to see the sign above. The park used to have a voluntary donation box and when I had the money I would always drop a few bucks in. Because I didnt have any cash on me, I spent the entire walk half paranoid that we would get arrested and the car would be towed because we werent able to pay. As a single income family we embrace little things like 'Free' when going out of the house.
The park itself is still in pretty good condition but there used to be shell gravel on the ground through all of the pathways. There was still shell gravel but it was mostly towards the front and I found out rather early that I had worn the wrong shoes. They were getting stuck in the mud. Oh the humanity. As we got a little farther down one of the paths a smell assaulted my nose. I can only describe it as sour, like rotting apples. If you've ever been around an untended apple orchard you know what I speak of. Then, we had a cloud of mosquitos escorting us. When I say it was a cloud, I do not exaggerate. They were buzzing around us, ready to carry us off to their lair and steal all of our blood. If I didnt have mad skills with the burping cloth I brought, it's likely we would have been a sad tale on the 6 o'clock news.
But we soldiered on, with one goal in mind, getting to the archway. There used to be this beautiful little archway that was covered with the prettiest flowers. It was probably one of the few redeeming qualities this Godforsaken state offers. My mouth hung open in disappointment. The flowers had been cleared away and the top of the arch taken off, and painted white. Disappointment does not fully encompass what I felt.
This is just a friendly reminder that there are Bears Outside, that you can never go home again, that change sucks, and all of those other adages that apply.
Then there are other things, that turn out to be not so good. Like today, when we went out for a walk in a local park. Chris and I had both spent a lot of time there (separately) years ago, and it's the closest park to our current residence. It's also heavily shaded which we counted a plus, and it used to be free. When we made the decision to go today, there was a nice breeze blowing, the baby was awake and happy, and there were no storm clouds moving in (even though this is Florida's season for daily showers).
We got off to a good start.
Me: "Do we want the stroller or should we bring the baby carrier?"
Him: "Let's bring the baby carrier. She likes to sit up anyway."
A few minutes pass, filled with furious movement in order to capture the moment before it passed. Wardrobe changes all around (read: I put something other than my pajamas), bottle making, diaper bag filling, etc. We get everything all packed into the car including the baby when Chris asks:
Him: "Did you bring the baby carrier?"
Me: "Whoops."
He trotted back in and was out in a flash carrying the item in question. I'd really like to say in my defense that I've never actually forgotten the baby. I may have forgotten all matter of items from her vast array of baby paraphenalia but not the baby herself. It doesnt count until you leave the driveway, dammit.
Somewhere between the time I turned the ignition in the car to leave and our arrival to the park the breeze decided to take itself elsewhere. Then, as we rolled into the parking space we were confronted with this:
If we'd had an ounce of sense we would have taken it for the omen that it was. Alas, as only new parents can be, we were too excited by the prospect of taking our baby to a favorite spot from our youth.
It had been many years since Chris and I had actually been there. It's a tiny park near a local airport and if you dont know it's there you would probably miss it. As luck would have it, we found it on the first pass and were a bit disappointed to see the sign above. The park used to have a voluntary donation box and when I had the money I would always drop a few bucks in. Because I didnt have any cash on me, I spent the entire walk half paranoid that we would get arrested and the car would be towed because we werent able to pay. As a single income family we embrace little things like 'Free' when going out of the house.
The park itself is still in pretty good condition but there used to be shell gravel on the ground through all of the pathways. There was still shell gravel but it was mostly towards the front and I found out rather early that I had worn the wrong shoes. They were getting stuck in the mud. Oh the humanity. As we got a little farther down one of the paths a smell assaulted my nose. I can only describe it as sour, like rotting apples. If you've ever been around an untended apple orchard you know what I speak of. Then, we had a cloud of mosquitos escorting us. When I say it was a cloud, I do not exaggerate. They were buzzing around us, ready to carry us off to their lair and steal all of our blood. If I didnt have mad skills with the burping cloth I brought, it's likely we would have been a sad tale on the 6 o'clock news.
But we soldiered on, with one goal in mind, getting to the archway. There used to be this beautiful little archway that was covered with the prettiest flowers. It was probably one of the few redeeming qualities this Godforsaken state offers. My mouth hung open in disappointment. The flowers had been cleared away and the top of the arch taken off, and painted white. Disappointment does not fully encompass what I felt.
This is just a friendly reminder that there are Bears Outside, that you can never go home again, that change sucks, and all of those other adages that apply.
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