2022-08_August_0820_TLP_Slow-Scrap_Story_Party-Trick_web

Rebecca McMeen - Fern, Woodland Paths, Flynn
Lynne-Marie - Field Notes, Explore
Paula Kesselring - In the Waves of Change, It Feels Like Spring, Der Zoo
Lynn Grieveson - Porto, Glad Tidings, Tropique, Aquarius
Rachel Jefferies - Salt Air
Forever Joy - Lake Life

Journaling reads:
Going on an outing with my Dad, I was maybe four years old. I was so excited, going with my friend Louise who lived next door. We were going to the zoo! I really do not recall much of the actual zoo, but I do remember our visit to the lagoon, the Lincoln Park Lagoon. It was cool there, it was dark, lots of greenery, ferns and trees to shelter and offer shade. I was fascinated by the ducks and geese swimming around in the brown, murky water. So fascinated that I got a bit too close to the edge and fell in. Dad was concerned that my friend Louise was out of danger and safe, but he forgot about me!

I remember the brown water, I recall seeing bits and pieces of who knows what on my way down to the soft mud bottom of the lagoon. I remember seeing fish, I remember seeing daylight as I bounced up to the surface. I remember my Dad attempting to grab me out of the water. I recall going down again, touching that cushioned bottom. Again, I remember seeing daylight as I surfaced again. And my Dad with his futile attempts at pulling me to safety. But I was not easily grabbed as I sunk one more time and bobbed up once again. The third time was the charm and Dad was able to get hold of me and all was well.

My zoo outing came to a halt. I had on a pink dress with a full white cotton slip. I was a sopping mess. We walked to a clearing, and Dad set me on top of a tall round stone sculpture. He took off my pink dress to dry in the sun. I remember being embarrassed with only my slip on. The three of us waited until I dried out. And then Dad hailed a taxi cab to transport us home. Mom saw the taxi pulling up in front and knew that something was wrong. We would never spend money on a taxi... But I was safe and sound and dry, still clutching a little vinyl red coin purse that contained a few cents. It also went with me on my dip into the lagoon and I never let it go.

To this day, at family gatherings, someone will comment about my Lincoln Park Lagoon adventure. John rolls his eyes, he’s heard it a hundred times,
“Going down for the third time at Lincoln Park Lagoon.”