place of nourishment

by Geoffrey Wheeler
At McGovern Centennial Gardens, Houston

The bench called to me as I walked past it. It was obviously shaded, and that was a must. Well, that’s the end of that bench! It’s no longer in the shade. I move to another shaded bench nearby.

What really does it for me is the cool breeze and the quiet. I noticed when I walked around the mount, that the cacophony of the waterfall stopped as soon as your ear moved past it. That was magical! So I knew I’d find a spot on this side of the mount. It’s out of the way, under tree, and relatively quiet. The proximity to the street is a little close, but the noise of the passing cars is nothing compared to the hammer blows of the waterfall.

Oh Lord! The barrage of stuff falling from the tree is just too much. So I move to the Family Garden. Ooooooooooh! So nice and quiet. Practically devoid of people. Even if it isn’t shaded, I don’t care.

I need peace and quiet. That is what is nourishing me. I hear birds mostly now. That’s perfect!
Why peace and quiet? Because quiet gives me space to ponder and drift. And that is what my body wants to do.