Silverstein at the Park

If there is a season one must take advantage of in my home town...it is summer. The Midwestern winters are as long and difficult as the summers in Texas. Grabbing some sandwiches, a couple of ice cold Izzy sodas and heading downtown to a free open air concert of Shel Silverstein poetry is one "easy" way to entertain 3 little ones along with their personal entourage.

After a day in the road or in the office, staring through a laptop privacy screen; it is somewhat therapeutic to leave those confines and enjoy a public event with a nice crowd. I've realized after so many years of travel that in spite of being around people, lots of people and in very close proximity to people, it can be very solitary and lonely experience at times.

Connecting with others and making the effort to allow myself to be involved in the lives of others is necessary. Not necessary in the sense of a task to be completed--one of many; but rather necessary as water, air and light are necessary for life. Healthy, sustainable life.

So, heading downtown after a long, taxing Monday; making sandwiches; paying for parking; packing all the gear required for 3 kids, is desparately needed. Not another outing to be preservered, but lived and enjoyed.