DEMING PARK MEMORIES For followers of my Memories and Opinions, who may not be aware, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer, two weeks ago, that has spread into the brain and other organs. I was told I had two months if I didn’t start treatments immediately. I started immediately! This essay is not about the cancer though, but about memories of being young, vibrant, full of life with the whole world in front of me in a simpler time of youth and innocence in a beautiful place called Deming Park. I took a slow drive through one of my favorite places in Terre Haute, Indiana. Deming Park. I stopped along the way, many times, at spots where I saw myself, as a kid, in the park. I was barely inside the entrance gate when I made my first stop. There I was, sliding down the snow-covered hill on my left, with my younger brother. It seemed a lot steeper back then. I don’t know how many times we would ride that sled down the hill, laughing and yelling out at other kids to get out of the way. Then we would make that long walk back to the top to do it all again. I could see our mom, standing at the bottom of the hill watching us and smiling, holding a thermos bottle of hot coffee in her hand. Then I looked to my right and saw myself throwing bread crumbs to the ducks that were swimming in the pond. I saw myself walking over the bridge and into the woods holding hands with a girlfriend to find a private place to steal a little kiss. Just a little further up the hill, I pulled over again when I saw myself sitting on a blanket with a girl and a box of Kentucky Fried Chicken under a big tree. Picnics in Deming Park were always a big part of my life as a kid. A little further up the road, I stopped again when I saw myself at the Swimming Pool, trying to work up enough courage to jump off the diving board. I saw myself running across the hot concrete, jumping from wet spots to wet spots so I wouldn’t burn the bottoms of my feet. I saw myself standing in the pool, looking at the good-looking lifeguard and fantasizing her saving me from drowning. I looked to my left, towards the concession stand, and saw myself at many family reunions. I would come early to unload the horseshoes, set up the Badminton net, layout the croquet course and pile up the whiffle ball and bats. I staked out our area! Soon, the aunts, uncles, cousins and others would join in with their baskets of homemade fried chicken, fresh-baked breads, baked beans, potato salads, hams, pies, cakes and you name it. It was a day-long feast of food, fun and togetherness. It only happened once a year, but oh what a time it was! I saw myself as a young kid, on the playground seeing how high I could go in the swing before flinging myself out. I was going hand-over-hand on the Tarzan Bars, climbing the Jungle Jim, getting splinters in my butt on the wooden seasaws and going round and round and round until I was dizzy on the spinning wheel and walking silly. At the end of the day, we would gather up our lawn chairs and take our places to listen to the Jimmy Adamai Band perform on the patio of the concession stand. Big Band style music on a hot summer evening in Deming Park was a truly great time. I saw myself riding the train around the track. I don’t know why, but I always liked sitting in the very back of the train. I remembered riding the peddle-carts around the track. I saw myself riding on a pony with my mom walking beside me so I wouldn’t fall off. I made several stops, revisiting the places where the monkey cage, the one-eyed alligator pit and the peacocks cage were. I felt sorry for the alligator, laughed at the monkeys and wanted to see the peacocks show off their feathers and get one. Then there was the Ute Shelter, site of many high school get togethers for Sadie Hawkins Day Picnics or during TWERP Week at Garfield High School. Again, I saw myself sitting on a blanket with a box of KFC and my girlfriend in the afternoon sun. Again, we would walk off, holding hands, to visit the animals on our way to the pond to cross the bridge into the woods for that private place to steal a kiss or two. I saw myself flying a kite, washing my yellow car so it would like nice for prom night, parking on a hill to make out under the stars. I saw myself walking barefoot through the grass with the dew getting between my toes and looking up at the thousands of stars in the nighttime sky as lightening bugs blinked on and off around me. My trip though Deming Park took awhile. I cried at each stop, but I smiled too. Reliving my youth gave me a since of calmness and acceptance that I have had a good life in a good place, at a good time. It made me realize how precious each sunrise, each day, each sunset, every memory is and how life was back then. My advice to today’s generation is to take in everything around you. Don’t take anything for granted and let it pass you by. Enjoy the moments, create memories, live life, love life and everything it holds. The time will come when you too will relive your past and I hope you can smile like I am.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:58:24 +0000
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