A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Yesterday, Dan and I spent the afternoon at Prospect Park, one of the largest parks in NYC, perhaps second only to Central Park, and just 4 blocks away in our very own neighborhood! We started the day by visiting our local farmer's market. We chose some locally-sourced andouille sausage, a half pound of creamy, "Oktobarska" cheese, a carton of grapes, and a baguette, and we headed to the park.

                   

We enjoyed our lunch underneath a gray sky amongst families, couples, and friends enjoying a beautiful Sunday. Off to our right was a large family doting over the only child in the group. They broke out in song, singing "Happy Birthday" with beautiful European accents. Later, we observed a father teaching his maybe-6-year-old son the finer points of soccer. "Charge the ball!" "You have to be agressive!" And finally, "Are you tired of practicing already?" :) Later came a couple in their 20's playing a game I remember playing in school. They took turns slapping each others hands, while the other tried to move out of the way in time- it was amusing to watch. We saw countless family gatherings, many of which were Latino families kicking around soccer balls and grilling corn. We noticed many were listening to traditional mariachi-style music. Dan and I discussed how much we enjoyed this sound. So often, music affects our mood and can transport us to a place that feels like home. It would be hard not to enjoy yourself with mariachi acting as the soundtrack to your day!

It was refreshing to see people relaxing and enjoying their loved ones, especially in this grinding culture of 12-hour work days and no time for a smile. It was beautiful to see so many families and friends enjoying their time together and making fun for themselves, whether by grilling, listening to music, playing volleyball, throwing a frisbee... or slapping each others' hands. ;)