A huge oak tree in a park 10-15 minutes walk from where I live.
I got an email yesterday from someone who was worried because I hadn't posted on my blog for a few days. In case anyone else is wondering too, perhaps I'd better put in a couple of photos with a few words to reassure you that all is well! We've just been having a bit of a heatwave, and it's been too hot to spend much time at the computer, that's all.
On Friday, I also had a visit from and old friend since 40+ years and her husband. (He's an old friend too by now! but it was her I knew first.) And 10+ years since we last met "in real life". We've been keeping in touch via Facebook, though, so it didn't quite feel like all that long ago... Or perhaps it did... Or not... It seems to me that Time keeps getting weirder and weirder the older I get!!!
Anyway, I got a surprise message only the day before, saying they'd be in my town the next day and could we meet? Taking corona restrictions etc into account, we ended up having a picnic outdoors where I live. (Conveniently, benches and a table in a quiet spot literally "around the corner" happened to be free.)
Looking at the photo that my friend's husband took, some lyrics by Paul Simon come to mind for me now...
Old friends
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends
---
Can you imagine us
Years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To beseventy
(sixty-something!)
Old friends
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears
Time it was
And what a time it was
It was . . .
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
Long ago . . . it must be . . .
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They're all that's left you
Years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange
To be
(sixty-something!)
Old friends
Memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears
Time it was
And what a time it was
It was . . .
A time of innocence
A time of confidences
Long ago . . . it must be . . .
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They're all that's left you
From 'Old Friends' by Paul Simon
7 comments:
It was genius to think of this wonderful old song to match your visit! What a lovely surprise, and visit. And this tree, wow! I cannot imagine how old it must be. But I bet it has seen more than one pandemic.
O bankın altında oturmak isterdim.
An almost surprise visit from an old friend, a sunny day, a picnic - sounds like a perfect day!
We've had those hot days last week; up to 29 C on Friday/Saturday, then it has cooled off quite a bit and I am now sitting at my desk wearing long sleeves and jeans again.
The tree is wonderful. I hope it will be there for another 200+ years.
This worked out super great all the way around because you are outside getting fresh air and sunshine and talking with old friends! Plus the weather was perfect I can tell.
"Time keeps getting weirder and weirder the older I get!" This is a point another friend of mine was making today. I've noticed that the days are passing so quickly that I can't keep up with them. No sooner have I had my first coffee then it's time for my second and my third and then it's lunchtime. Now it's dinner time and despite doing quite a lot today I can't believe how quickly it's gone. Soon it'll be nearly midnight and I'll be thinking of bed and seeing if I'm awake enough to play WWF for a few minutes.
With recent deaths Paul Simon's song gets more and more poignant.
That's neat you got to see your friend but I feel for you with the Summer heat, that's something I don't do well with.
It's still too hot, and seems likely to be getting even hotter over the weekend... So I'll just say thanks to you all for your comments and try to go visit your blogs back instead of replying to individual comments here!
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