Travis Anderson Essay, Research Paper

English 101

Essay#2

Refuge From The Concrete

After starting school recently, my life became overloaded with responsibility. A typical day starts at six thirty as a screaming alarm summons me from bed. I leave my house at seven o’clock. I will not be back home for another twelve hours. School and work have imposed a rather tight schedule on me. I have trouble making time for necessary relaxation and meditation. At times, I get overwhelmed with responsibility. This is when I throw a leash on my dog and head out in search of more spiritual surroundings.

After my dog drags me down Coal then across University, I start to see the collage of treetops that would be my destination. I find it ironic that such a concentration of vegetation flourishes in this urban surrounding. With each block I traveled, I grew in anticipation. My eye’s perception of the foliage grew clearer as I neared. I was close now and could read the generic wooden sign that reigned over most Albuquerque parks. Carved into the sign were the words “Roosevelt Park”. Under the wooden sign, I found a list of the park’s rules and regulations. I proceeded to ignore them and let my dog free from her leash. She took off immediately to join in with the rest of the dogs perusing the park.

Roosevelt Park is situated below the level of the street. This gives it a more isolated feeling than other Albuquerque parks. The grass flows in waves over the many hills and knolls that are throughout the park. Some hilltops possess peculiar metal poles with chains dangling down from them. These function as holes for a frisbee golf course. There is a variety of different trees speckled through the park. Some of them tall and strong, shooting up three story’s high. Some are young and fragile, reaching for my knees. Weaving in and out of the trees you can find various evergreen bushes and shrubbery. Roosevelt Park has an abundance of plant life to enjoy.

The people are what I find to be most interesting. I spot a few couples making out on hillsides and ducking behind bushes. The park benches and tables are overrun with vagrants napping and families eating fast food. There is a variety of high school students sitting at the far end of the park suspiciously puffing a joint. Above them joggers are making their laps. Frisbee players are flinging their discs towards the metal poles. Meanwhile dog owners are observing the collection of dogs playing in the middle of the park. I find watching these people do their park activities can be as entertaining as television.

Roosevelt Park is full of life and activity in the middle of a cold concrete community. When I am spiritually drained, I go to the park to escape from my asphalt surroundings. I am there every weekend for an hour of vacation. The park permits me the opportunity to clear my head and meditate. Something I do not have time for during the week. I leave the park refreshed with newfound peace of mind.