Douglas Fir in Lighthouse Park
Sue and I often walk the dog in Lighthouse Park in the mornings. Now that it is summer and the schools are off, the park is home to more than the dedicated dog walkers and nature lovers. The park is the host of summer camps for young kids. So during our walk we tend to come across crowds of excited kids running around. They seem to be playing team games like capture the flag or tag. They are noisy and excitable but well behaved. This morning one girl stopped us and asked if she could pet Jasper, our border collie. I said she could but suggested that she throw his stick for him as that is his main interest during these walks. Jasper rather reluctantly let her have the stick and she tossed it down the trail for him. Then she thanked us, told us we had a cute puppy and told us to have a great day.
I thought back to my summers as a kid and thought how much I would have loved this kind of summer camp experience – running around in the wild, chasing and being chased. It would have been a great way to spend the days. I doubt I would have been as polite as the kids we have met, but I hope so.