Philadelphia Walk

Written Yesterday Evening

I just returned from my walk with Lindsey. We wandered for three hours over the city, packing a dinner and getting tea at Coffee Bean on the same street as Independence Hall. I saw the liberty bell and toasted it with my peppermint tea. The day tasted like melting snow, wet earth, the rivers on either side of the city, trees brushing the air still-ly, and peppermint. We brought girl scout thin mints with us and ate them by the river, near the Irish statue, in the last bit of golden sun before it truly turned into sunset. There were lots of couples walking today, lots of runnings, a group doing a faux band photo shoot with a friend, dogs, and one couple playing loud music and slowly making out while sitting on a short cement barrier. Very awkward. The loveliest, most charming, walk came through the old parts of the city. All the red brick homes, the cobble stone streets, and the trees that lean across the roads to link fingers. There are old churches and opened iron gates to let us into graveyards and old history. There are small paths between buildings, one way paths between the rows of houses that are quaint and clearly loved. There was a park full of children and their parents, just a small jungle gym with some trees and benches in the middle of the houses. No cars seemed to exist back in there. The kids were running and screaming in their brightly colored coats, hats, and stockings. Even the winter coats seemed to hint at spring. I was nearly run over by a young lad in a blue sweater and flying hair, racing a pink baby doll stroller along the cobble stones.

The buildings in Philly are short enough for the sun to fall between and find its way along the streets. It is good for the soul on these days to see such sun and walk in it.