In a Park in Vienna

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Does anyone else experience this? Some of the most interesting and amazing things I see and experience are when I am alone, or at least when I am not with anyone who can verify or validate my experience. Like one time my family was visiting my Aunt Lucy in Hilton Head, South Carolina, I was out on the golf course (her house was in a gated country club community) with my pitching wedge, just messing around and waiting for my mom to be ready to go (I liked seeing aunt lucy, but would often run out of things to say or lose interest in the end). And it was here by myself that I hit my best golf shot ever; I made it in the hole from about 130 yards away. And there was no one there to see it.

A few days ago in Vienna I was going for a run, and toward the end of the run I stopped in a park downtown. I was stretching and just sort of observing the scene—kids playing on the playground, couples sitting and talking, mothers and dads watching their kids play, people on their cell phones, a few people just strolling through. An elderly couple entered the park about fifty feet away from me. They were dressed nicely, like they had come from church. They were holding hands, walking slowly admiring the flowers, the kids playing. They walked closer to me and then stopped about ten feet away from me. The two exchanged a few words, then separating their hands, the woman turned in the opposite direction and began running. In an instant she had begun to run, at quite a pace, a lap around the park. I stood there in disbelief at this woman, whom I perceived to be in her eighties, running with the stride of an 18-year old. I realized that many of the other park-goers were watching with the same look of amazement on their faces.
A few minutes later the woman had made a full tour of the park, arriving back to where her husband was standing. She slowed her run to a jog, then to a walk, then she joined hands with her husband and they continued their leisurely stroll. Within moments, they were out of sight. It was like a performance, but I don’t think they for it to be. I think she just felt like running around the park. And it was beautiful. One of my favorite things about this moment was the look on the man’s face as he watched his wife circle the park; his chin was cocked slightly back, hands in pockets, and he had the most contented smile on his face. He was glowing.

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Photos

This is not the park
I do not have a photo of the park. This is Volksgarten, another park. And Tommy.

Comments

[catherine]

Wonderful article
I like to read your articles. You really had such a wonderful trip and so many amazing experiences. I think I should travel out of China. Take care on the trip.

[echo]

the most romantic thing
really a nice story..after reading,feel warm.i think the old couple not only love each other, but also understand each other,and thats the most romantic thing in the world..