As I was racing across three towns to get from preschool drop-off to an appointment, my route took me past the Berkeley Rose Garden. It's the tail-end of prime rose season right now, and I decided to follow that age-old directive and slow down, pull over and take the time to smell the roses...
Located in the Berkeley hills with an amazing view of the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, this beautiful and peaceful place is a haven for rose-lovers who enjoy wandering the paths of the bloom-filled amphitheater. Young and old delight in the sights and smells. And if you're looking for a beautiful location for a May Bay Area wedding, it's definitely worth checking out.
And when one grows weary of the formality of the garden, there is a large park and playground right across the street. Creeks and narrow paths through the trees, railroad-tie staircases and little stone bridges create a magical place surrounding a wonderful playground...that I used to frequent as a child and is a current favorite of all four of my children :)
The concrete slide on the left has been there since I was little.
We used to go down it on waxed paper so we'd go faster.
Lots of 'burned' knees and elbows from scraping on the side while whizzing down.
The slide's surface has been roughed up 'for safety' and waxed paper has been banned.
But it still gives a pretty awesome ride!
Walking around in the garden and smelling the roses had a decidedly restorative effect. That adage exists for a reason.
In other news, I just finished reading my second book in one month. Given that I hadn't read a whole grown-up book since the spring of 2009, this is kind of a big deal. Both were entirely engrossing and kept me up past my bedtime on several occasions.
I think that's part of why I don't read books much.
I get waayyyyy into them. I don't like to be bothered while I'm reading (hard to engineer when you have 4 kids). I don't like to have to put the book down before a point of resolution (hard to guarantee with 4 quarreling kids requiring constant interventions). I don't like to read books that fail to draw me in. And I also don't like finishing books...because then they are over...and the story is completed...and you don't get to keep reading it :( I am sad that I have finished the book...almost to the point of being bereft. I have another waiting in the wings...but I am afraid to start it. Because once I start it, I will read it all the way through and then it will be over...the mere prospect of which bums me out all over again.
I have a problem.
I'd better go smell those roses some more.
