We didn't mean to...

Buhl Park rocks!  When I was a tween, I spent entire summers at their pool with my friends.  I took tennis lessons there, ran through during track practice occasionally, went to both the Junior and Senior proms there and eventually held our wedding reception there.  I have a painting of the Buhl Casino hanging in my house.  Like I said, Buhl Park rocks. 

My Dad helped build a playground at Buhl park a couple summers ago and last week when I was taking the kids to swim at the Buhl pool I set out to find Papa’s park.  It was like flying with Continental, it all sounds so easy and nothing goes right.  For some reason a majority of the streets had been routed as one ways…not my strong suit.  When we found the park it looked like Cupid had vomited on it.  Repeatedly.  There were red mardi gras beads, draped red fabric – even a throne.  It looked like it had been recruited as a set for a very low budget “Love Connection”.  Turns out we had accidentally stumbled upon an art in the park production of Alice in Wonderland and this was the Red Queen’s palace.  Alice in Wonderland is the stuff of nightmares, but our parents put us through it their parents before.  It is a rite of passage and far be it for me to deny my kids such culture.

We played life size chess

met Twiddle Dee and Tweetle Dum

Watched a caterpillar smoke opium

Crashed the Madd Hatter's tea party

Learned how to paint the roses red

Played Flamingo croquet

What a mess that makes!

And ended our hour journey through the park at the Queens Court

We totally didn't mean to do this!  We knew nothing of this that morning, but once we found it, it had to be done!  Strange how fortune can smile and timing can be right even if it something you never saw yourself doing.   

This is Alice (Sara), she will be 24 this fall. Really.

For at least two little ones, Buhl Park will be that place they saw that Alice in Wonderland show that summer they spent in Pa.  Now if I can just get that damn creepy jabberwocky out of my head!