A Walk

My mission is to go for a long walk. The destination in mind, is Central Park. I'll have to walk many blocks to get there but the long walk will do me some good - help me clear my head and get some exercise. It's a warm and sunny day, excellent weather for a long walk. My feet hit the pavement and my walk begins. There's a group of European tourists on the main street huddled together reading a fold-out map. They sound German as they point to the map, to the street, back to the map and then look at each other for assurance on where they need to be. I cross the street and head south. The big church on the corner is in session and I can hear the gospel choir praise the Lord's name through song. Their voices mesh so powerfully together that I tempted to open the tall wooden doors and take a peek inside. My favorite part of church when I was little, was when the choir stood up in unison and belted out a song of trials and tribulations. Matching choir robes, movement, song...gospel music has a way of touching the soul deeply. I even slow my stride, so I can hang on to the song a little longer. A couple of young boys whiz by on skateboards. They're yelling back and forth to one another in a thick Jamaican accent. Jeans belted way below their waist, they move swiftly on their graffiti-patterned skateboards. Around 125th street one man turns a complete circle and asks me, "Can I talk to the beautiful lady?" My simple head gesture of nodding no, is all I can muster. Permeating through a first-story window is the trace of chicken frying in grease. Occasionally, I hear the sound of a television. It's Sunday. Some stores are closed and some are open. On such a warm afternoon in the middle of Fall, there's a guy selling flavored ice from his cart. Sweet smells of cherries and mango fill the air around his cart. The vendors still line the street with their tables filled with inscents, oils, Obama t-shirts, and handmade jewelry. I study the facades of buildings as I stroll along towards the park. I notice new construction going up on the avenue, as well as, paint peeling from the sides of old apartment buildings. The sun feels warm on my face. I'm less tense, I have a steady pace. The energy around me elicits a gospel song in my heart, I hum to myself. I see the park ahead but decide to walk further.