Idle Hour Park Walk

I think that Laurie was on target with her estimation of the duck/geese population at Phenix City, Alabama's Idle Hour Park: hundreds! Resting on the banks, strutting across the road, dozing under the trees, paddling across the lake, and even following us around the loop road, great groups of them seemed to have imprinted on us. Rather quickly we made a habit to look down at the pavement, in order to dodge slick spots that they left in their wake.

Planning to document the afternoon, I snapped away with my camera. The goose close enough to me for a good picture refused to look my way. Put your hand out there like you've got some bread, Laurie. Glad to be anywhere on a Friday afternoon except logged into Clarity, Laurie humored me. But, instead of looking up, the stubborn goose commented with a disgusted hiss at our ruse, doggedly pecking away at whatever delicasy he/she (have no idea) had found on the banks of  Moon Lake where we'd gone to "walk it off" after work.

Our plan had been to burn some calories and chalk off one more aerobic session on our fitness to-do list. Laurie suggested Idle Hour as a different walking spot, and I was eager to give it a try. I'm afraid that I ruined our exercise plans, stopping every few feet to take a picture or to laugh at a funny Laurie observation. We had only walked about a half-of-a-mile when I left to meet friends for an impromptu El Vaquero dinner. Thankfully, Laurie is good-natured and didn't seem to mind.

The late afternoon was beautiful and gave me the chance to revisit the scene of a pleasant childhood memory. My dad had taken Beth and me to Idle Hour one afternoon in the early 1960's when I was about seven and she, about five. Laurie told me that the park had been in a state of decline even then. My memory of the place is vague, but Laurie confirmed what I thought that I knew: we probably rode a merry-go-round and a swam in an immense pool - not much in the way of excitement by today's standards. However, Beth and I remembered our afternoon there for years to come as complete magic. More than likely, my fun Daddy provided most of the magic.

Today's walk was short and, though not especially magical, will yield its own good memories: a good friend, several good chuckles, and a sweet autumn afternoon.