september

it's been such a beautiful september. it was hot for the first few weeks, but now it's been in the upper 60s, low 70s. today after singing with the nyu children's chorus we all converged in washington square. some of us adults sat and talked and knitted while the children ran around. outside the playground a man played the drums while another man juggled fiery sticks to the beat. i had fun taking pictures to the same rhythm. it was a day to imagine all the parks in the world with their drummers and jugglers and children and parents and students and . . . . .

i miss the fountain in washington square

this is c in the fountain at washington square a few years ago. the fountain is currently torn up because someone felt it was inappropriate to have it out of alignment with the arch. so far, i haven't found much information about the renovations (though i did manage to uncover the fact that renovating the park has been a controversial topic for many years). i did find an article in the gothamist that mentions the fountain plaza will be leveled. my main concern is that it remains a wading pool. all the fountains in new york city are off limits to it's children, except washington square. even the lovely, shallow fountain that is now in columbus circle is verboten. a security guard chastised the girls and i one day when they were walking along the edge and getting their feet wet. i figured what could be the harm? the edge was three inches from the ground, and the water level was up to their ankles. they couldn't fall and break their necks and certainly they couldn't drown! but the guard informed me that someone had thrown dye into it the week before to turn the water red. i didn't understand if i was supposed to be worried that someone would repeat the incident the moment my children put their feet and hands in, or if the guard would lose her job if her supervisor saw she wasn't enforcing the rules, or if she just enjoyed bossing someone around. nyc rules in regard to children running and climbing and jumping are anal and overbearing. i truly wish guards could lighten up . . relax . . let me worry if my child is going to fall or get bumped in the head . . but you know, it's a power and control issue. a very american problem.

what's really amusing to me is that the person who made the fountain a wading pool in washington square is robert moses!

back in the hood

we got back on sunday to a hot city, but nice breezes by the river. surprisingly, i'm already completely unpacked! it usually takes me much longer. but then when you aren't running around from appointment to appointment, you can stay home and get things done. i like having nowhere to go except the playground.