Skip to main content

Come to the Water

Photography by James Binckley. Used with permission.

My daughter and I looked at this photograph, posted on Facebook, as we thought about going to Lakefest on Saturday.

"Look! The Fountain's on!"

We talked a litle bit about whether people ever play in the fountain. This led to a discussion of liability and how people are more prone to sue than they used to be. Ah, well.

Later that day we were there. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seemed more alive to me than in years past. The mild, slightly breezy temperatures with low humidity probably helped. The addition of the Petit Louis restaurants added to the liveliness of the scene. It almost looked like a place you would come to when it wasn't Lakefest.

We started at the end closer to the Sheraton, and worked our way towards the concert stage. When we got to Clyde's I looked at all the paddle boats in the lake and got a lump in my throat. Seeing the Lakefront so alive made me think of someone who loved Columbia. I felt his spirit as we moved through the festival, enjoyed waffles from the waffle truck, listened to live music, watched children dancing in a cloud of bubbles.

And then there was the fountain. All the steps were filled with people sitting and chatting. Children were running and dancing in the central space while their parents snapped pictures. Other children were cooling their toes in the water.

Now you may have seen this plenty of times, but I had not. The pure joy of people of all ages enjoying that fountain filled me with hope. Columbia is for all of us, whether we are resting, or chatting, or dancing, or playing, or even getting a bit messy.

How I relished that moment--with no one saying, "It's my fountain!" No one trying to control the fountain, or proscribe its use or enjoyment. All were happy. All were welcome.

I know that people here have great reverence for the symbolism of the People Tree, but it truly means nothing if our behaviors don't reflect its promise. Look for the moments where you can make it happen. Seek out opportunities to make those connections. Be The Tree.

My friend was pretty much a walking, talking People Tree. Wherever he was, connections happened. He would have been really happy this weekend to see Columbia at its best.

 
 
 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teacher Gifts

Today is the last day of school before the Winter Break. It’s a good time to remember the far-reaching nature of our public school system. You may not have children. You may have sent your children to independent schools. It matters not. You will be impacted one way or another. Yesterday I read a long thread on Facebook about several waves of illness in the schools right now. There’s influenza A and norovirus, I believe. And of course there’s COVID. Apparently in some individual schools the rate of illness is high enough for school admin to notify parents.  When I was little the acceptable holiday gift for a teacher was one of those lovely floral handkerchief squares. (I don’t know what it was for male teachers. They were rare in my elementary years.) These days the range of teacher gifts is wider and I have fond memories of Target gift cards which I have written about before. I think it’s safe to say that giving one’s teacher Influenza, norovirus, or COVID is not the ideal holiday...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

Columbia Chance Connection

  Last night, as my husband and I were about to sit down to dinner, our front door swung open and a cheery voice announced, “I’m ba—ack!”  We weren’t expecting anyone. Clearly the only people who’d walk right in to our house would be one of our offspring. I had my reading glasses on so I wasn’t seeing too clearly. It seemed too tall for our youngest, but we knew our eldest was at work. I took off my glasses to see a friendly but confused face scanning our living room. When her gaze landed on us we all had a sudden realization. We didn’t know eachother. “Oh I’m so sorry! I’m in the wrong house! My daughter just moved in and she needed hooks for the kitchen so I ran out to get them.” She waved the package. “All these houses look the same and I don’t know the neighborhood yet. I thought this was my daughter’s house.” We were all getting a bit giggly. “That’s okay. For a quick second we thought you were our daughter,” said my husband. I told her our names and said she should defin...
Post a Comment
Read more