Our Park
User Story
By Taliah Budzilka
Of all the things there is to love about Edmonton my favourite would have to be the parks. Having lived here all my life, several of my fondest memories were held there.
Growing up, and coming from a family with little extras, my mom would try to create fun memories for both my brother and I by taking us to different parks around the city just so we could play. My brother preferred to explore, but I was more about the swings. I remember the 'under ducks' where my mom would grab the back of the swing, pull back with all might, then run forward while pushing us on the swing and somehow managing to escape while quickly ducking underneath.
On other occasions we were fortunate to have a schoolyard playground across the street from our house. I remember playing there after school with the neighbours’ kids, or playing tag with my dad. I can still remember him chanting the chorus from “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam as he would try to evade being tagged. Gosh I had fun...but it didn't stop there.
Years later, having moved to yet another area of the city, I was once again fortunate to live near a park. It was a place where I spent many late nights/early mornings chatting with my new boyfriend while sitting on a picnic bench. With our noses starting to run and toes going numb we'd find comfort in cuddling, sometimes enjoying a hot beverage, and occasionally rabbit watching before I'd have to sneak back into my parents’ place.
On other days, during the daylight hours, we'd find a grassy spot on the top of the hill and sit or lie down discussing the future and randomness of the present, as time continued to pass...until one day.
I had come home from work... and met up with my boyfriend; he said he wanted to take me to Second Cup; I didn't think too much of it. We went to the one on Jasper Avenue and I ordered a green tea something. With our drinks half finished the “rabbit trail” began. He then took me to another small park downtown and we spent an unusually short amount of time there before "going home"... as I would soon discover that wasn't the case. He took a detour and it led me to the park. A rush of warm emotion felt as though it had flooded over me upon arriving. This was "our" park. He then wanted to go for a walk as we had done countless times before; and then he stopped. We sat and cuddled and then he asked me to be his wife. I was shocked and yet so happily surprised; of all places to propose, he chose “our” park.
I said yes, and looking back now we have been married for a year. We still like to visit our park and can only hope that down the road when we have kids that we can share and create new memories for them as was done with us.
