REFLECTION from Walk #26, Yr 2: April 9, 2016.
Walkers started out from Figarden Elementary. They noticed churches, a ponding basin, geese, a putting green with three holes in an artificial turf front yard, extraordinary varieties of roses, a Latter Day Saints Temple, train tracks, graffiti, green, green trees, an entrance and exit through a broken-down fence to the train tracks, and drought tolerant landscaping.
Walkers commented on the number of Prius cars, well-maintained streets, snails, solar panels, the number of artificial turf yards, the lack of sidewalks, a loud train, a dead dog by the tracks, expensive cars, decorative mail boxes, well cared for homes, front art and statues, professional landscaping, roads that don’t go through, security cameras, tire swings in front yards, evidence of self-employment because of the vehicles, two young men test driving a Camero, and inquisitive looks from folks in cars passing by.
Walkers experienced the scents of the rain, flowers, wet grass, wet dog, car exhaust, roses, cigarettes, and the absence of breakfast foods cooking.
Walkers heard the sounds of tires on wet pavement, traffic, birds, a loud dog barking, yelling from inside a house, ducks, honking geese, talk radio loud from a garage, motorcycle engine roaring by, television, a train, the crunching of footsteps and the crunch of an unfortunate snail, the tap-dance of rain on unbrellas, and the sound of the men talking before test driving the Camero.
Walkers felt the neighborhoods were relaxing, peaceful, and quiet, with a sense of belonging. Walkers noticed that few people were outside, and they wondered how the Walkers may have appeared to the residents. Since there were not always sidewalks, one Walker suggested that they may have appeared more “dominant” than intended.
Walkers didn’t know that the stately Latter Day Saints Temple was there, nor that streets were named after figs.
These are our brothers and sisters of Fresno, and all of our lives and our futures are tied together.
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