The Park:
Wilton Park of Minnetonka, a small space tucked in between wooded areas and the neighborhood street a short distance from my house. For the last 30 years, I have been taking my morning walk rain or shine cold or hot. In the summer, I stop by the mulberry tree on my way there, taste its fruits (tute), an old childhood favorite. The park brought a few neighbors together, with their kids and dogs, having dog’s conversation, wondering about dogs’ names, breeds, and eating habits. We great each by our dog;s name, Im Woddy’s owner. Kids played tennis, soccer, basketball, and baseball paranetes just walked with their dogs. Sitting on one of the few benches there doing nothing, watching the world goes by, as an Egyptian born, we have mastered the art of sitting. The gray bench was by the tennis court and, through the years, PEOPLE SET ON IT, brought people together, families, friends and lovers had their first kiss on it. Kids and dogs took comfort released themselves by it. The gray bench witnessed lots of stories, kept lots of secrets, never complained, and always willing to listen. Since the lockdown and social distancing, Amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Life in the park slowly changed; silence loomed over the park landscape. People slowly stopped coming, dogs and kids disappeared, no more joyously plays, or innocent voices, the park’s life all but vanished. The parking lot has no cars, the playground without play, the tennis court without tennis, and the basketball hoop without hope. The air is fresh but nobody to breathe it, Every day, I would walk to the park stop briefly by the abandoned gray bench, alone, ignored and unappreciated—a vivid reminder of how the pandemic has shaken our lives to the core. Looking at the gray bench, waiting for a companion for someone to share stories. The gray bench doesn’t speak but sure a good listener !
