19 September 2025 – You come back home with fresh eyes for your own city.
I wake up yesterday and, just before 7 a.m., stare awe-struck at the grandeur of clouds drifting above and among the mountains, in a still-opalescent sky.
Aand today, just now, I fall into fits of giggles at the decals on this slightly battered car.
First, the grouping as a whole…
and then, the exquisitely perfect placement of the cat claws vis-à-vis the dings in the car body.
After that I stroll the perimeter of Dude Chilling Park, just ’cause it’s my local park and I love the way The Dude watches over us…
from his perch on the south/east corner of this ordinary patch of grass.
“Ordinary” to the eye, that is — not-very-large rectangle of grass, some trees around, some benches around, and that’s it. But people gravitate, in considerate and companionable ways, and they enjoy themselves and they thrive and they make magic.
Today’s magic: what I find at the south/west corner of the park.
A pop-up street sale is underway, one I’m sure no City authorities ever heard about (let alone licensed) and who cares, because it’s only a few tables and lots of good humour. I learn this young woman has clothes on offer because she’s moving to Rome tomorrow and can’t take everything; I learn this other young woman collects stuff and then moves it on, y’know?; and I learn that grizzled guy, the one with the racks of old LPs, is a Rolling Stones fan. I learn this last factoid because, when I tell him it was a thrill to see the name of jazz great Joe Pass once again, he replies, eyes a-gleam, “With the Stones!” I manage to contain my enthusiasm for the Stones, he ditto for Joe Pass — but we agree in our enthusiasm for Dude Chilling Park.
So there you are.
I am back home.
WALKING WOMAN 
Lynette d'Arty-Cross
/ 19 September 2025Whoever owns that vehicle has a great sense of humour.
Liz
/ 20 September 2025Yes. I would have chuckled too if I seen that car. Perfect placement for that dint in the car.
That small patch area of grass you mentioned with trees and a bench, I was drawn to that statue in the last photo. I found it interesting. Is there any story or meaning to that piece?
icelandpenny
/ 20 September 2025Oh yes, an important story — the sculptor is Michael Dennis, the piece was originally worked in work, which deteriorated, and after a lot of fund-raising (civic money, and some business, and local people) Dennis resculpted the piece in bronze; original name Reclining Figure, nickname The Dude, and much loved as such — here’s a link re installation of the bronze version (https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/freshly-bronzed-dude-finally-returns-to-vancouver-s-dude-chilling-park-1.5253490 ) and in the post you’ll see a link for the park itself, which will tell you a lot more — I’m so glad you noticed the statue! it’s a fine piece of work
Liz
/ 21 September 2025Oh lovely. Thank you very much. I shall take a look.
Liz
/ 21 September 2025A lovely story and reading of it’s importance to the locals. I thought when I first seen it in your photo, I thought there be some story to it.
icelandpenny
/ 26 September 2025it’s a happy story — some sculptures, like that one, like Henry Moore’s “Large Two Forms” outside the AGO in Toronto, become beloved. Nobody has to teach any art-appreciation about them. They are just beloved, and it is wonderful to see, and to share
janetweightreed10
/ 20 September 2025Thank you for this post. Love the clouds – set against the human buildings….beautiful. The car is so much fun…Love it…….your walks are illuminating. 🙂
Bronlima
/ 23 September 2025The beauty of people and places!