Sunday in the Park

It is freezing back east. It is freezing up north. It is 70 degrees and beautiful in San Francisco. I know I know; we need rain. But it’s January 18, and it is a beautiful Sunday. We went to Golden Gate Park for a walk and a trip to the museum.

Maggie LOVES the museum. We give her the choice of the brand spanking new California Academy of Sciences with its fantastic Aquarium and its cool rain forest and albino alligator, but…nope. She always chooses the deYoung Museum. The two facilities are about 50 yards apart and both about five blocks from here. We are members of both places so it is just as easy to do one as the other. I think the huge crowds at the Academy of Sciences are a bit much for Maggie. In addition, it may be too visually stimulating with the fish tunnel and the eel cave. The museum is also crowded, but there are far fewer children running around. The museum is more sedate and cultured, just like Maggie (HA!)

To do the museum properly, you have to approach a piece of art, read the title and the author to here and then tilt her chair back a few inches and let it fall back into place. This is serious fun. She probably knows more of the artists than I do, because she listens carefully for the end when she gets a little “tippy” ride in her chair. Then she laughs her head off until we get to the next work of art. At first, other people do not know how to react, but after three or four paintings, they are cracking up too.

Walking over there and back is also entertaining. The best part of all is the area off 6th avenue where there are roller skaters and people on trick bikes. There is music blaring from a large sound system that is set up in a jogging stroller. (The skaters bring it in on their skates). There are usually about 100 people standing around watching another 20 or so do tricks, speed around and just have fun. The mix of people is hilarious. There are some families with little kids and teenagers, but it is mostly adults doing amazing feats on their skates or bikes. You will see a 40-year-old guy zoom past a four year old. There is never a collision, but I’m not sure why not. It is not a roller rink, per se, but it has evolved into a de facto skating area.

We have to walk right through there but it is never a problem. Folks zoom right by Maggie and wave at her in her chair. She laughs through the whole thing. Here she is with dad just after negotiating our way through.

Today was especially festive, and it was not just the weather. People are in a good mood and excited. The music was “Celebrate” and it was interspersed with Obama’s voice saying this is OUR TIME. It was amazing. Little kids are dancing, dogs are running around, and people are laughing and skating and riding and having fun. The energy was great.

As I said, I know we need rain, but I am glad it wasn’t today.