Sunday in the Park

I took Henry for a walk at the park today. I don't really care to walk around in my neighborhood very much. Various streets are sketchy, and there's a lot of uneven sidewalks. Since beautiful Tower Grove Park is less than a mile away, I like to drive there and walk around the park and look at its beautiful plants. The park is owned and managed by the same foundation as the Botanical Gardens.

I always see professional photographers working at the park, often with brides. Today there were no brides, just an older couple having their picture taken. Yesterday when I was there, one bride was waiting while the other bride was using the best spot. For you Salt Lake people, this spot would be the photographic equivalent of Chapel Park.

I had taken Henry's picture (see above), when I spotted a photographer (I thought) setting up to take a picture of a young family. Being curious as to how they work, I like to stalk photographers in public. So I steered my stroller in their direction. However, as I got closer I realized I had been completely mistaken- they weren't setting up for photos, they were setting up for a picnic. As I got even closer, I realized I knew the woman. She's a med school wife that just moved to St. Louis a couple of weeks ago.

She attends the same church as I do, so I had met her earlier today (though I had spoken with her very briefly two weeks ago). At church I had asked her to get a copy of the program from the White Coat Ceremony, held today for the class of 2013. Nick was given the Gold Humanism Award, which is presented at the ceremony today, but he's in California. If he had been there, he would be one of the people putting coats on the new class. I'm a little sad he missed that opportunity.

So as I approached her and made eye contact, there was no moment of realization for her- she clearly thought that I was a passer-by staring at her for no reason. So I kept walking.

When I was done with my walk, I walked by their picnic again to get to my car. I got caught staring it her again, so then I had to say hello to her and reintroduce myself. She and her husband seem really nice. They have a two-month-old baby boy. I hope to get to know her better, and perhaps she'll know me a little better.