Back home in South Carolina, my quiet place was a cabin my grandfather owned in
the woods. He would take me out there to hunt and fish. The place was so quiet,
you could hear the quietness. It’s the sound of a tone that settles in your
ear. As I got older, I use to go there to get away from the city and city
problems. I miss that place. A quiet place is something everyone needs
regardless if they think so or not. To some, it may be their bedroom or bathtub,
or any secluded place. My quiet place here and now is Piedmont Park. Now that I
reside in Atlanta, Georgia, Piedmont Park is a decent quiet place. Every Sunday
I would go out to Piedmont Park and relax. It’s a peaceful place in such a
busy city. I would find a secluded shaded area. Every Sunday was the same
routine, I would prepare the night before. I would pack in a sack, a little
blanket, a few Sade CDs, and a blunt. Lying there under the clear blue sky,
smelling the fresh cut grass, and the sweet smell of honeysuckle would take me
into a trance. There would be couples picnicking, and families barbecuing, there
would be masters walking their dogs, and kids throwing Frisbees. I would think
about the previous week and prepare myself mentally for the coming week. I would
sit there for hours just relaxing and vibing on Sade. I think about all the time
I have wasted. I think about how we all take time for granted. I remember one
time I thought about time as a bank. Each day we are credited $86,400 or 86,400
seconds. Every day we have to spend all of that money, you can’t save or
invest the money. To understand the value of a day, ask a mother who has given
birth to a pre-mature child one day to early, to understand the value of an
hour, ask someone who is waiting for a vital organ. To understand the value of a
minute, ask someone who has missed the bus. To understand the value of a second,
ask someone who has just been through a car accident. To understand the value of
a millisecond, ask an Olympic silver medalist. Time is just one thing I think
about in my quiet place. I try to accept the past and prepare for the future.
Family, health, future endeavors, new friendships, friendships that you know
need to end, secrets, ambitions, goals, and solitude are many things that go
through my mind--and the best thing about it.......... no one interrupts you!