TheBanyanTree: Contact

[auntiesash]

That's cool, Tom.  Thanks for sharing this little snippet of life.  Good job
on the photos too!

sash

On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Tom Smith <deserthiker2000 at yahoo.com>wrote:

> The local news media announced a day ahead that Michelle
> Obama's was going to visit a nearby community garden.  I
> wondered how this turn of events would affect my life..
> would streets be blocked off?  Would my blue-collar
> neighborhood be the setting of some historic event?  I
> truly hoped not.
>
> The acre-or so garden a year ago was surrounded by a 6' high
> chain link fence.  Motorists and pedestrians along a fairly
> busy adjacent street could see a wide variety of crops grow.  I
> was amazed at how quickly corn stalks became taller than the
> average human.  There were two plastic-covered hothouses.
> Almost always somebody was watering or tilling, setting stakes,
> weeding, or planting.  Just days ago a bamboo curtain was
> attached to the chain link perimeter fence, blocking the view.
>
> Returning home with a trunk full of groceries, I passed by the
> community garden.  Crowds lined the side of the street opposite
> the garden and police cars, parking enforcement skooters, and a
> black sedan with darkly tinted windows were parked the entire
> length of the community garden side of the street.  Police at
> the intersections prevented pedestrians from walking on the
> garden side of the street.
>
> I grabbed the new camera I had just bought, and a 100mm
> telephoto/zoom lens and walked the 2 blocks from where I live
> to see whatever I would be allowed to see.  The majority of the
> folks gathered there had cameras also, and most of those were
> shirt-pocket size. I found a nice high spot with a gap between
> trees allowing a good view of the garden.  A man in a suit,
> stood inside the garden and looked out in my direction.  He
> didn't seem extraordinarly interested in me.  I zoomed in on
> him, lightly touched the shutter button, enjoyed the thrill of
> seeing the autofocus bring his features into sharp detail, and
> clicked off a shot.  He looked at me.  I looked at him.  He
> looked toward something to his left, then maintained kind of a
> sweeping vigilance.  Nobody told me to move.
>
> A black man, dressed in a red polo shirt, wearing wraparound
> sunglasses with brown lenses, appeared at my side.  "I'm
> surprised they let anyone stay here." he said.  "You have a
> clear shot."  "I don't like to think like a sniper." I said,
> and continued, "Michelle started a victory garden at the White
> House.  That's a great idea."
>
> Two teachers from a nearby elementary school joined us.  We
> discussed topics ranging from ISO settings and Michelle's
> wardrobe to the community newsletter, while waiting for the
> First Lady to show up.  There is something truly wonderful
> about chatting with strangers.
>
> The sound of sirens grew louder behind us.  A motorcade led by
> police on motorcycles with flashing lights passed by on our
> right, made a left turn at the far end of the garden, then
> another left turn and moved in our direction for about half a
> block and stopped.  We all looked for a glimpse of Michelle.
>
> "What's she wearing?"
>
> "She just went into that white tent."
>
> "She lives in a white house."
>
> "There she is!"
>
> "I got her waving!"
>
> "I got a hug!"
>
> "Michelle!" could be heard from the crowd across the street.
> Michelle waved and the crowd cheered.
>
> Photos at:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/9482738@N07/4526605172/
>
>
>
>


-- 
Wag more.
Bark less.