Going Home

It came just the same

It started in low. Then it started to grow ...

I thought about that line from Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" while our first Sundays-in-the-park event of the season unfolded this afternoon at Fletcher Field.

Chris Kempa is back at the helm of the Reading in the Park program again this summer.

Just like the Christmas celebration in Who-ville following the Grinch's dastardly deed, it took a little while to get going. But when it did reach its pinnacle, well, NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!

Kids everywhere: reading, swinging, climbing, playing ball, flying a kite. Parents getting reacquainted and enjoying the company and gorgeous weather. Me back behind my favorite little barbecue in the whole world, grilling up 120 hot dogs -- none of which went to waste.

[More:]

I must admit, I wasn't optimistic about our turnout today given the circumstances: Week 1 of our summer programs; the transient nature of the neighborhood; the shooting near the park in April; temperature in the high 80s. My gut told me there would be fewer than 50 people.

I'm back behind the grill.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Kids started to trickle into the park around 1:45 p.m. By 2:30, people were coming in large groups. By the time we served up the hot dogs around 3, there were at least 100 people within the friendly confines of Fletcher Field.

While I was cooking, a car slowed down on Mt. Olivet Street and parked near the entrance on the corner of Mt. Olivet and Gilbo. A very large African-American man wearing a Tigers cap got out of the car, came into the park and walked right up to me.

"You don't know me," he said as he shook my hand. "But I know about you and what you're doing around here. I just want you to know that I appreciate it."

He then reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill and handed it to me.

And Jonathan Morgan is as flighty as ever.

"This will help pay for some of the food," he said, "and I'll be back again next week."

I tried to decline the money, said that we had done a little fund raising and had a small nest egg for the summer.

He wouldn't take no for an answer, shook my hand again and then left.

I swear, my already full heart grew three more sizes today.

Thanks to everybody who came out, particularly the volunteers and Yvette Gerace for the photos. Extra thanks to our sponsors this week, Lee and Bob Walmsley, who turned their recent luck on the golf course and at the track into a feast for so many.

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: geraceyvette [Member]

Heavens to Besty (whatever that means) what a wonderful day in the park it was! What a crowd, what beautiful weather, what great kids we meet and dozens of familiar faces returned. And this was just the "pilot" Sunday???. AMEN!

I encourage all of you to see the pictures from todays event on Face Book. Either my page or the Friends of Fletcher Field page via my page (search Yvette Gerace). There you will also find several pictures of our recent past events too. (was that an oximoron? recent past?) Anyway look for lots of "F3 publicity" on Face Book. It doesn't hold a candle to this blog but there's lots of pictures, posts, and members. And don't forget our official website www.friendsoffletcherfield.com - It's where you need to go to see all the upcoming events, times, locations, and lots more information. Some events require lots of planning ahead so go there often. See ya Sunday.

Permalink 06/28/09 @ 22:34

Comment from: irjohnson [Member]

God is good. What a wonderful day. The weather was great, the hot dogs went like wild fire, and the kids and adults had a great time. I wasn't sure how many of our kids would return, but they were all there. Victoria, who was in the Living Nativity play, asked me if there will be another play. I just had to smile as I remembered how cold that day was. Then, one of the young ladies offered to bring hot dogs and goodies next Sunday. Yes, Sunday was certainly encouraging to me. "We're back"....

Permalink 06/29/09 @ 20:55

Comment from: Chris Kempa [Member]

The reunion on Sunday was another terrific time. This year, we had a new multitude of friends coming home – those who recently moved away from the neighborhood, but heard about the get-together, and traveled across town to join in the fun.

In spite of the same old negative stuff going on, we’re blessed to have a team of adults embracing this rare opportunity, so their children can grow up accustomed to these types of multicultural events, and hopefully, in the not too distant future, multicultural communities!

Permalink 06/30/09 @ 20:11