REFLECTION Walk #19, Yr 2. February 13, 2016. Walkers started at Van Ness Lakes, near Forkner Elementary.
Walkers were struck by how clean and quiet the area was, so still. Yards had interesting shapes of bushes, very manicured and esoteric, with landscaping that was clean and immaculate. There were sprawling green grassy areas, big trees, big houses, fences of rod iron, not many dogs–only on leashes, well-attended. One dog was being pushed in a stroller.
Walkers noticed a man-made lake, houses with boats tethered to a dock down a few steps from their homes. Everyone that Walkers met were friendly and seemingly happy. There were citrus trees, golf carts, “Brady Bunch” houses – with bricks in the front. One house was for sale for $1.3 million. Walkers saw one row of duplexes that were made to look independent – from million dollar homes to duplexes, but the paint line made them look like separate houses. Walkers noticed no trash bins in front of houses or street basketball nets.
One house had recently burned down–only one chair remained outside a burned-out patio area, the last remnant from lives finding a new place to sit and rest.
Walkers entered freely into a gated housing development–by telling the security guard they were a walking group. His older car was parked on street just inside the gate.
Walkers heard the sounds of piano practice, Canadian geese, birds, sirens, people playing tennis, but not many kids–only a few kids playing at back corner of school playground later in the walk.
One Walker didn’t know the gated area and the surrounding homes existed. He was inspired by it and said it was where people “hope to be one day.” It was like a whole new world to him, to live on a lake with a pontoon boat. He was inspired by seeing the homes, that this would be his goal – having grown up in east Fresno. It would be where he’d want to go trick or treating
These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno, and all of our lives and our futures are tied together.
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