A Park
One thing I like about where I live is that there are lots of parks. JC and I visited one near my house the other day. It’s actually a holding pond that’s been made into a park. We went to it late in the day and the reflections were amazing.
For this picture story challenge, I want YOU to imagine you’ve taken a walk in this park and now you’re sitting on the bench pictured above. You look out into pond and see the trees reflected in the water.
It’s a quiet, peaceful time and you’re enjoying yourself. Then the snap of a twig; a cry of a bird as it’s startled from its perch let you know that someone is coming towards you.
You turn from looking at the pond and see a person approaching through the moss laden trees. You can’t see immediately who the person is, but you are very curious.
As the person gets closer, you realize you recognize the face. You are surprised, but not afraid. It’s natural that you slide over to make room for this person on the bench. The person sits down and then turns to you with a smile.
Picture Story Challenge
Your challenge today is: Who sits down beside you on the bench?
This person can be someone you know in your life right now, someone you’ve always wanted to meet, a person from history, someone imaginary or even someone who has passed on, but was special to you.
You can choose to share only the name of the person who joins you on the bench or if you want, you can also answer some of these additional questions:
Why did you pick this particular person to sit beside you?
What question would you like to ask this person?
What does this person want to tell you?
If none of these questions suit you, feel free to make up your own question and answer it.
Enjoy, be creative and have FUN:~)
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
The reflection photo is gorgeous – it’s like a mirror!
I’d need a couple of benches because there are so many people I’d love to sit in the park on a beautiful day and pass time with.
Talon´s last blog ..It’s beginning…
I knew right away who this person was going to be. My grandmother, who passed away over 18 years ago. We used to take long walks when I was little girl. Walks along country roads near our farm, where we would enjoy the peace and quiet and beauty of nature. A lot of words weren’t necessary. One of my best memories. In this park, on your bench, we would just sit and enjoy the silence. With me of course, enjoying her presence and her memory. My grandmother’s name was Margaret.
Davina´s last blog ..A Yogi Twists A Business Pitch
Oh isn’t nature just stunning, what an interior designer was at work here?
My mum would come and sit next to me to hear me say that I love her very much and that her memory is giving me great joy.
I will tell her she is harvesting her love and I am the person who I am because of her input.
Sara, my gratitude for having me write this, Wilma xoxo
Wilma Ham´s last blog ..Community is dead, long live community
I picture you Sara walking over and sitting next to me on the bench….Then I wake up from my nap to you saying get off the bench we have to finish our walk.
Thanks for the enjoyable walk.
@ Talon — Thanks about the picture. I think it’s nice that you have so many people you think of to sit down beside you:~)
@ Davina — You were obviously close to your grandmother! What a nice memory you wrote about and I’ve always liked the name Margaret. Did you know it means “pearl?” Thanks so much for sharing:~)
@ Wilma — Wow…you had me in tears. I know your mother must have been a special because I know you and you a re also very special:~)
@ JC — Well, I plan for that walk to be one of many:~)
Hi Sara – It’s my mother. Seems like a theme. I would ask her to tell me her stories, because I didn’t get to hear enough of them. I lost her quite unexpectedly when I was 20 years old. So we would sit on that bench and spend hours remembering. And I think she would tell me, even though years have gone by without her, that she is still with me each day.
Patty – Why Not Start Now?´s last blog ..The House of Belonging
Hello Sara…what beautiful pictures! My dad is the person who walks up and sits beside me on the bench. He passed away more than a decade ago, but I still miss him. I am happy each time I dream about him at night, for it seems so real. He always loved the holidays, so memories of him right now are more poignant.
I would ask him how he is and what it is like where he is now. I would hug him…one more time.
Karen
Karen Chaffee´s last blog ..First Snowfall
Hi Sara!
One of the meditations I do is sitting on a big boulder by a lake – very similar scene to the pics you posted – and I have this “encounter” almost all the time. The person varies, I let the Universe choose who to send me. If it was MY choice, I would select my father and let some healing take place.
Sara, I didn’t know Margaret meant “pearl”. I like that — thanks.
@JC Awwwh so cute
LOL
Davina´s last blog ..It’s Midnight & I’m Still Single
Hi Sara — those are really dramatic willow trees. Unless they aren’t willow trees, in which case they’re dramatic anyway despite my lack of understanding of their botanical classification. Anyway, great photos as always!
@ Patty — I lost my dad when I was sixteen so I kind of know what it feels like, but I agree with what your mother would say….that she is with you every day:~)
@ Karen — I miss my dad too. He was always my best supporter and was the one that encouraged me to write. I agree that as the holidays approach the memories are more poignant. I’m glad you still dream about your dad…perhaps that’s his way of being with you. So, maybe in your dreams you can give him that hug:~)
@ SuZen — That’s really cool about your meditations on the boulder by the lake. It sounds like a peaceful and quiet place. I hope you will sit on your boulder and let that healing take place:~)
@ Davina — You’re welcome!
@ Chris — The tree being reflected is an Oak Tree. We have tons of them where I live. They are so majestic and OLD. It’s a constant battle in my town to save the old ones…urban growth isn’t always kind to trees, but I will say my town is pretty tough about what can be taken down. We have one super store that had to build it’s parking lot around an old Oak Tree and the tree stands alone, but serves as a constant reminder to anyone driving by that we need to respect and honor these trees. Thanks for your comment:~)
Don’t hit me, but I think I’d like it to be Jesus.
I’d look right at him and ask why I had to be me, and could I start again. Or maybe I wouldn’t say anything at all.
I don’t know what he’d want to tell me, but I would hope that he’d sit with me awhile until I felt okay.
Not a fun answer, but as plain speaking as I can muster for now…
Tony Single´s last blog ..Taking the Other View
@ Tony — I think Jesus is a wonderful choice. I’m also confident that his answer to you would be that you can’t start again because you don’t need to. I think Jesus would tell you that you are perfect just as you are. I think he’d also tell you that the reason you have to be you will unfold in time. Most of all, I think Jesus would have told you how much you are loved. Be patient with yourself, my friend:~)