Sandy Bottom Park - Hampton, Virginia

 

Happy and Safe Thanksgiving to all.

 

        This park serves as a reminder of the many blessings that we have in our life as well as the change that comes.  We see it in it's splendor at Thanksgiving, and another season, it's carriage would be somewhat different.  This is also a parallel to life, and the change that takes place there in.  Today, in the Hampton Roads area is a Nor eastern Storm (lots of rain and wind).  Noon, young lady (from work) funeral -died unexpectedly from undiagnosed inoperable brain tumor.  She lives her husband, 8-year old daughter and a brand new baby.  Then you shift to a still frozen turkey - tomorrows main course at our house....where the cat will be licking his whiskers, and the dog sniffing in the air.  Of course both will have a Thanksgiving Dinner.  Down at the church and so many other places will be serving Thanksgiving Dinner. The Macy's Day parade will be airing and the football game to come later; and if you step outdoors the scent of cooking turkeys are everywhere.

 

          Thanksgiving just like the picture is a moment of capture.  It appears that the whole country comes together. It is important that everyone will have a Thanksgiving Dinner, and that people actually care about each other.  I believe it is a Holiday that will not become 'Political Incorrect' based on a solid and wholesome establishment by us; and is something of a core value for any new comer to willing feel welcome to join in  and simply be grateful.

 

          Wishing all of you a really nice Thanksgiving.  Take the time and just be thankful for the things that you do have.

 

Flora

Often, I go over to Sandy Bottom and it is a welcome sight after a week or day of hard work. It is a place where one can return to nature and just get away from the stress and those hectic parts of life. I have pictures of the gardens up front that you all planted, with the butterflies and squirrels scrambling around.  I have taken many of the lakes surrounded by the trees.  In the summer it is all green foliage but now it is all autumn colors as reflect even in the lake.  I am sending this picture to show why parks are important to every day citizens. I am also hoping that the entire corridor of land near the intersection of the Parkway and Big Bethel road one day be a part of this park.  Similar as you traveled down Jefferson Ave to Fort Eustis Blvd in NN and you see Newport News Park at that corridor.  There are also many other moments at Sandy Bottom: Fishing, folks canoeing, touring the displays, walking the trails, standing and looking at the trees, the ducks playing in the water, campers, hikers, shelters, but most of all - of a local place where nature and people can interact.

 

Flora Randall

Hampton, VA

 

Member of the NHCL