9 August 2026 – Not “on the lam” as in, fleeing; “on the lam” as in, literally, on David Lam Park.

Even more literally, smack at the park’s north-east corner, at the Pacific & Drake intersection.

I’ve just come from a noon-hour flamenco performance in the Scotiabank Dance Centre (north of Emery Barnes Park, top of the map), and wandered my way south on ‘Drake, en route False Creek and a Seawall walk at least part-way home.

I do not carry straight on, into the park. I stop for this.

Wouldn’t you?

Politely waiting my turn behind E-Scooter Lady gives me time to decide what to buy. I am limited, not by inclination but by space in my mini-backpack. I weigh options. I am judicious.

Mini-backpack now bulging with corn and cherries, I step into the park.

My eye skitters right past the green field; I’m already mentally down there at the silver ribbon, down there at False Creek. I vaguely register something-or-other going on mid-field… but who cares?

Silly me. The something-or-other deserves attention.

By the time I’m halfway down the path, my ear is beguiled by children’s laughter and, immediately after, my eye beguiled by a child-version “soccer” ball that comes bouncing to my feet. I give it a boot back towards the father who has come running to retrieve it. He’s all “Sorry!” and I’m all “No, it’s terrific!” and then I stand to watch for a bit.

Two men, one little boy, one little girl, and a whole lot of fun.

I later send the photo to my longtime soccer-coaching nephew, who replies: “Such a great age as they discover the joy of kicking and chasing the ball around!” What’s really great is that those adults are wise enough to let it be pure joy — yes, they give some tips, as the children race around, but it’s all warm voices, encouragement and cheers.

I’m barely again underway when I again stop. For this.

The ceramic mosaic, I later learn, is a 2002 community project facilitated by Leah Dexter and titled Watch Your Step. I obey. I watch and I also read. (I always read.) The encircling text is surprising, since it juxtaposes negative values (e.g. “panic,” “darkness,” “fear”) with positive (e.g “unity,” “awaken”).

One short sentence at the very top explains the mixture.

“This image represents the balance between struggle and growth we all share.”

The both/and of life. I am nodding agreement as I walk on.

The Seawall pathways display their own mix of both/and’s:

directions for pedestrians and cyclists, on that pole at the upper left, and dog-owner instructions, here at the lower right.

One last Lam-image, in the water and visible just above the sign, as I leave the park.

Can you see it? The metal arc spanning “David” to “Lam,” with a narrow cylinder shooting skyward on the right. It is another of the park’s art installations, this one called Brush With Illumination, by Buster Simpson (1998).

I walk on east, thinking how richly I have been rewarded by my brief time in this 4.34 Ha park: fresh local fruit & veggies, children playing their way into soccer skills, and art installations.

Much as I approve of public art, much as I appreciate the Okanagan bounty (cherries beside me as I write these words)… it is the kiddies’ squeals of laughter that please me most.