Back to the Future

A few weeks ago I got to walk down memory lane with my daughter. I grew up in Raleigh and one of my favorite places to go was Pullen Park. It was back in the days when the park was much smaller. The train only went in a circle around the playground. There was an outdoor swimming pool and no pond.

There are a few things that haven’t changed a bit in all that time. I was pleasantly surprised to see the boat ride intact. It has to be 40 years old or more. Of course the carousel is just like it used be….all the way down to the wood shavings on the floor. I used to love that smell as a child. I loved horses so I used to always pick a horse to ride and dream that it was real as we went around and around.

I don’t think I ever dreamed that I’d be able to take my daughter back to the exact same spot. Since she’s not quite two I’m not sure what was going through her mind as we rode one of the beautifully painted horses. I was just glad she wasn’t afraid. She also loved the train ride and enjoyed climbing around in the caboose that sits on the edge of the playground. It was very special to see her enjoying a place that was so special to me as a child.

There is a group working to preserve and improve Pullen Park. Wouldn’t it be something if my daughter gets to take her daughter there many years from now?