As I positioned myself at the corner of 10th Avenue and and “I” Street, attracted by the wide open spaces of the Delaney Park Strip, and–more specifically– by the reflection of the island of flowers in a puddle, I didn’t realize that the final picture would contain personal memories. My dentist’s office, the home once lived in by a now-deceased friend, and a church where our storytellers’ guild has told stories are all in the picture. There are more memories packed into the Park Strip for me, and for many others.

The Park Strip used to be the only runway in Anchorage. It is now a long, grassy island that extends for many blocks east to west between 9th and 10th. It is a gathering place for community events. (On 9/11 hundreds of people gathered spontaneously on the portion just to the left of the flower island where there is a tall American flag.)

There was a lot of activity going on in the summer sun while I sat in the car and drew the picture. There were skateboarders, a mother changing a toddler’s diapers, tourists taking photos, cyclists, a lady carrying a little dog, people flying kites. Two motor cyclists drove up and parked right in the puddle to take pictures of each other. There was a steady flow of traffic going past me. That parcel of land, does indeed contain a lot! I admit to being more at home in the quiet neighborhood next to the vacant lot, but I am certain that this was the perfect spot for me to be drawing yesterday.

I learned that NOT doing a mock-up composition ahead of time caused headaches I could not rescind once the pen was put to paper. That’s okay, I’m learning, one step at a time!