On Sunday afternoon, I decided to head outside into the beautiful Prague spring which finally arrived in full force. I took a picnic mat and my backpack stuffed with a book and pillow and was determined to stake out a space in rather lovely Riegovy Sady - the park next door to my apartment. Not more than 5 minutes did I spend in the grass reading To Kill A Mocking Bird, when a bird above dropped the white stuff. I was appalled, extremely appalled. After a long week at work and mounting stresses, this was a straw my haystack simply could not bear, so I picked up my belongings and headed back inside. I was not entirely defeated, however. I dropped my stuff and decided to take my MP3 player, stocked with U2's Joshua Tree, and headed back outside for a walk around Riegovy Sady.
I can't tell you how much I love U2 and how their lyrics ring in my ears and in my heart. I play "Where the Streets Have No Name" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and oh "Running to Stand Still" over and over and over. With lots on my mind and heart, I have taken to walking around Prague, sometimes at night just to get out and about and to think. How many people actually spend an hour once or twice a week walking from Vinohrady - the posh, expat community of Prague - to the Vltava river for views of Prague Castle and back. That is how I sometimes spend an evening if I've got nothing better to do. In the States we have our freeways and cars, when rolling down the windows and blasting the tunes creates a profound sense of freedom. Here in Prague, I have the cobble stone streets as well as asphalt, and the Castle and Charles Bridge. On a good night, the tourists lay low and I am Master and Commander. Other nights, I just block out the multitudes.
I'm happy to report that tonight I visited the biergarten I noticed not far from my flat. I happened to walk by on Sunday evening a bit lonely, wishing I had a few friends to call spur of the moment, sort of what the case was in Virginia and DC. On my way to work this fine Monday, I simply new the weather would be spectacular and felt the day would be marked a failure if I did not rally at least one person to enjoy the joys of sitting outside, ushering in the dark of night, with Czech pivo in hand and good company. Well, I succeeded: I managed to twist the arm of not one, but two colleagues, Julian and Luke. Not only did I have UEFA and the Champions League explained to me in full, but I also laid the groundwork for future Risk, paint ball, and card games.
As I sit at home, fully satisfied with the day's events, I am reminded of the A Team and the immortal Hannibal Smith's (George Peppard) famous line: I love it when a plan comes together.
2 comments:
Mommy says, the Chinese view being pooped on by a bird good luck... so she's been told.
The bird was taking revenge for the book title :-). Birds "spat" at the most inopportune times--I've gotten hit on my way to church. The pivo and company reminds me of my recent windows-open knock-back-a-chilled-cider with HR after a stressful day. Nothing is quite so viscerally satisfying as good food/drink with good company (and conversation) in a good atmosphere. Thanks for the lovely vision!
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