Park musings

Sometimes you just need to take some time and relax. Let your mind slip away from the ins and outs of every day life, and just kickback. It's nice to just spend time with friends who are in the same mindset -- wishing to enjoy the day.

Yesterday was a perfect example of such an afternoon. My friends and I ventured out to Tilden Park in the Berkeley Hills. We sat on the picnic blanket I picked up from Target last summer. The day was practically perfect. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, not too hot, with a pleasant breeze. The original idea was to go on a picnic, but the idea of food at the time kind of fell through. No worries. Armed with magazines and other assorted reading material, not to mention an arsenal of things to catch up on, hanging out on a lazy summer afternoon was just what we needed.

While we were at the park, there was a wedding taking place up the hill. We could hear the string quartet and brass ensemble playing. Luckily, we were not in plain view, so as not to distract from the main event – the wedding. In fact, we the topic of weddings kept coming up in the ebb and flow of our conversations that afternoon. I have a co-worker who just got hitched, and another two who will have their nuptials in the coming months. I don’t, however, have any close friends who are engaged. (Not yet anyway).

I suppose it’s coming to that next milestone in our lives. Friends and acquaintances who fall in the same age group are stressing over fonts and invitations, having their final fitting, taking engagement photos, and of course getting hitched. It’s almost surreal to think about, but at the same time very real. And who knows, I could be next.

Once the sun finally descended behind the trees at the park, we drove to Indian Rock (I think that’s what it’s called) and took in the spectacular view of Berkeley, the Bay, and the Bridges. Quite amazing. Then we ventured to Gregoire’s, a hole-in-the-wall establishment offering a set menu of French cuisine for takeout. Seems like a misnomer to call French cuisine takeout, but that’s what it was. And it was excellent. Visit them online Gregoire Restaurants.

Joyeux 14 Juillet!