Spring walk
May 25, 2006
Those old side by side Sycamores fake me out every spring. Only a few days ago, they were shedding their fan-size leaves left and right, and their limbs had a bad case of eczema. Then came yesterday’s wind and rain, and the ground and sidewalk along which I shuffle were plastered with those tired-looking leaves. I shook my head and passed on by, wondering if they were seeing their last spring and soon would no longer be shading the walk along Madison Park.
Hah! It happened again. I can almost hear them saying, “Look! Here he comes again. Let’s see how sickly we can look.”
“Oh, come on. He won’t fall for it again, will he? The way he shuffles along, we’re a cinch to outlast him.”
“Well, I bet his memory ain’t getting any better. Let’s try it. Wave your arms and shake them.” (The winds blow, the limbs shake and the leaves flutter down.)
You guessed it: This sunny morning the limbs of those old trees were covered, covered, with brand new leaves. This is absolutely the last time I’ll be fooled. I can hear a snickering from about 60 feet up. I’ll ignore it.
What a morning for a walk! the air was scrubbed clean by yesterday’s storm. It’s pushing 80 degrees in spite of a north wind. The Peonies are hanging their heads in the sunshine and scattering petals all over the place - can’t even smell them any more after weeks of the air reeking of cheap perfume. They have passed the torch to the Tiger Lilies and Roses. I won’t be long until the climbers will be in full bloom.
As I walked south on 22nd street, I found my way blocked by a card table on the sidewalk. Sitting behind it was a young lady selling cinnamon rolls for a dollar. Had I a dollar on me I certainly would have been a customer. I’ve seen a lot of lemonade stands along that broad, tree-lined street, but never a cinnamon roll stand. I said I hoped business would be good and walked on.
On the way back, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The young entrepreneur’s mother and a couple of friends were moving the table with her wares out into the middle of the street. They said that traffic had not been stopping and thought a new location might help. I didn’t linger to find out whether the mother would let the girls sit out in the middle of the street. Maybe mothers aren’t as protective as they used to be. Or not as smart.
Anyway, it was a good morning for a long (for me, these days,) walk. The back and hips didn’t protest very much, but it would have taken a heap more protesting to get my attention on this fine morning.
Dave, still movin’ right along.
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6 Responses to “Spring walk”
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I really enjoyed this narrative……..More, please……
Glad you enjoyed it - I guess the purpose of all this is to share experiences and viewpoints. Now, if I had just remembered to sling my camera… .
Hi Dave,
Loved your blog!
We’ve loved life (& church) in Pittsburgh.
Josh (26) gets married this Thanksgiving & just graduated from Pitt as a business major (after 5 years in the Navy) & just began work with Ryland Homes as management trainee.
Emilie (24) is a social worker with a Pittsburgh agency for foster care & just submitted her application for MSW here at Pitt.
Katie (20) moved back to Seattle, works as assistant manager with Aveda & just began taking classes at a community college.
Jan has taken a year off from teaching (to do ministry/work on our big old house/keep me out of trouble).
I’m pastor at Bellefield Presbyterian Church: fast-growing young congregation with strong ministries to college students, grad students and internationals. As I near the grand age of 55, I’m making preparations to take on a new challenge for my next chapter: interim ministry. The prospect of a new challenges & adventures, short-term assignments, and the screaming need in our denomination for a healthier kind of interim are compelling. (I’ve always appreciated Ed Breeds impact on my life after Paul Beran left Quincy).
Gotta run…
For the Kingdom,
Dave Van Dyke
PS You might appreciate that this year was Bellefield’s turn to send an elder rep to general assembly. We chose Rob Gagnon (infamous prof at Pittsburgh Seminary) & has been assigned to the Church Orders Committee of GA. Should be interesting……………….. I’ve tended to stay out of active involvement beyond the church & Presbytery level– the couple times I jumped into the defray was too crazy-making & depressing. Mostly pray for this wacky denomination.
OOPS– didn’t realize my reply was going public.
Oh well– nothing TOO incriminating!
DVD
Hi Dave, great to hear from you. Email on the way.
I too enjoy your articles of your Quincy walks. I miss the beauty of Quincy - I’d like to think that I did fully appreciate it most years living there. Here in O’Fallon my walks consist of loud traffic sounds from Hwy K, and lovely views of the retail developments going up all around our neighborhood. Harumpf.