happy new year, from australia, in 5 hours time

Almost every other day, I travel down this road. The same road as it was growing up; one or two potholes, that darn speed bump I always miss, and passing by the neighborhood park. But today was different.

As I drove past the park, something felt odd. There was an uncanny, almost haunting, emptiness to it. The weather was overcast — the perfect weather to be kicking ball or just messing around the field, in my opinion — but the park was empty. Quiet, except for the subtle howl of the wind. It was beautiful.

It wasn't always like this. There used to be kids dangling from the monkey bars. There used to be families taking strolls during the evening. There used to be boys playing football, and the rare group of girls watching from the swings. There used to be a small group of teenagers on skateboards, and a healthy amount of children on bicycles.

It used to be much noisier than this. The air used to be filled with whooping, laughing, and profanities in all four languages. Not that we were angry for the most part.

To think that once upon a time this place was echoing with joy and laughter.. It reminds me how times have changed, and how the people, who were once whooping, laughing, and cursing, too have changed.

It probably means that I, too, must have changed.

~