Have you ever had the experience where you come across something that you didn't know existed? Somewhere, perhaps, in a place that you go all of the time? That happened to us in the past year. We were on our way to a regularly scheduled event at a very normal location. This is a spot that we have been for years and years and years. Ok. Four years, actually. But this time, something caught our eye. We saw a gate. Now this gate has always been there, but it has always been locked. In addition to it being locked, it is near a dumpster. This was not an attractive gate to go through. But on this day, this cool summer evening, the gate was open. We also were in the strange situation of being an hour early for something.
I noticed the gate and I was curious. I don't even know how or why I looked over there. Our destination was in the other direction. But I saw it. And then, Ms. B saw it. I could see the wheels turning in her brain. I am not kidding you when I say that I have never really noticed this gate in 4 years, but today... today it caught our eye. B said something to A and before I knew it, all four of us were slowly drawn to the gate.
We peaked in. I am not sure what we expected to find, but it certainly wasn't what was there. We peeked. Then we stepped in. Now, on the other side of the gate was something that you wouldn’t typically find attractive at first glance. In fact, we took Brendan there after our experience and he said “yeesh… this is…” But to us, it was magical. We stepped through and it was like being in another world.
The space was a mix of concrete and boards wrapping around trees leading to all sorts of dead ends and curious spaces. It didn’t make any sense and you couldn’t get from point A to B without retracing your steps a couple of times. I am sure the design made sense sometime, somewhere, but it didn’t make any sense in the modern day interpretation of a space for children. The girls didn’t care. We spent 45 minutes exploring and enjoying this space built around and including trees and open spaces.
The evening was everything you might imagine or expect from a child when they open a gift, or go to this new museum or activity. Awe. Wonder. Amazement. This all happened when we stepped three steps out of an ordinary parking lot. An experience I could never hope to recreate. Completely walled in, I was never nervous of where the girls were or who else they might interact with. We were alone to explore. Now, I am not going to tell you where we were. Frankly, we don’t really want you to join us. We call it our secret park. Most of the time, this gate is locked.
We have brought two people, grandma and papa. Neither thought it as cool as we did. So for now, just know that sometimes, when we have an hour to spare, we will explore the unknown. For us, in that moment, it will be magical. I hope to hold the memory of this evening forever. Unplanned, simple, carefree. I can still feel that they remember it as much as I do when we near the secret garden.
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