Static summer

It only took a minute in the abandoned law library of Jerome Green Hall to determine I was not destined to study yesterday. The sun had struck a pact with Mother Nature to extend the season of summer just a little longer and I, being a proactive and self-interested individual, determined to capitalize on the deal. A few hours later, Diana and I left Columbia campus in the direction of Central Park.

Our walk took us along Amsterdam, heading downtown. To take a brief break from the noise of the streets, we stepped into the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Our luck didn’t fail us, and our meditations were accompanied by the church organist, practicing for his Sunday performance! Refreshed and enlightened, we set out once more downtown.

A few blocks and one farmers’ market later, we stood at the North-western tip of central park. Our objective, Harlem Meer (a pond), was separate from us by about 5 blocks of forest, playgrounds, and bike trails. The jaunt across the North Woods of Central Park was invigorating. Though Fall fell long ago, it has yet to magically transform the palate of our community. The earth seems oblivious to the inevitability of seasonal change, still clutching jealously to its green cover.

The park presented a vibrant collage of our community. Two wedding parties gathered near the water for photographs; another, located in the Conservatory Garden. A young girl in a billowing gown of purples and greens, together with a sharp escort of tuxes, celebrated her Quinceanera. Children walked their parents, dragging older feet toward attractions of interest: a playground, a turtle or geese, an esplanade. Joggers, bikers, and rollerblades performed an endless circuit around the park’s perimeter. And amateur photographers, such as me, sought to catch on film the light that warmed the day.