A stroll down memory lane.

Lucky me got to see Krissa and Kristen, college roomie and friend, for a short afternoon reunion. Where else but on our own UWEC campus?
Krissa was pretty determined to visit every place of significance during those four (five?) years. We did the best we could to keep up with her. Fourth floor of the library was on the list. We did spend an awful lot of time there.
We got lunch at the soon-to-be-demolished Davie's Center. Lily had cheese curds.

We were outside of the sciences building. We didn't go in, because let's face it, the only reason we went there the first time around was by force and because of gen ed requirements and something about a well-rounded education.

Now this is more like it. Hibbard Humanities Hall. Third floor, foreign languages, 4th floor, English. Yeah, we spent some time here. We lived here once upon a time. We didn't have the fancy deck, but we did have some happy times.
Ok, so heading north and further back in time, here we are at Irvine Park. If you don't recognize those bear statues, it's because they didn't exist way back when I was a kid.
Along with the petting zoo.
Lily loved the bunnies, but she didn't want to pet them.
I loved the pig! Seriously, he was really cute! He wagged his tail and was so happy.

I felt so guilty when we had pork for dinner. But it was delicious.

This is Big Ben, a giant rabbit. The picture doesn't even show all of him. He's the biggest bunny I've ever seen. Except for the Easter Bunny, of course.
Dad and Gamma Louise came to the park too. Probably the first time in I don't know how many years for them?
Oh, and they not only have the petting zoo, but they also have animals you don't want to pet. Irvine Park still probably doesn't give them the room and the resources that animals of this size ought to have, but it's a pretty drastic improvement from when I was a kid.
Lily loved the tigers. She grabbed Louises' leg and said "Gamma, Gamma, Gamma," and pulled her over so she could see them, too. Cute.
But that was pretty much the only walking that Lily did.
When I was a kid on hot days, we went swimming in Duncan Creek. Now they have fountains to splash in.


Duncan Creek is still there, and when I got together with my old work crew, we went down there. Now they've built a path to walk down to the creek. That's right, we had to climb down a sad little trail.

The older kids gave me a glimpse into my future as they taunted their parents by going out to deep in the current. I hate moving water.


While some things change, it's nice to see that not all things do. Like this merry-go-round. I haven't seen one like it since I moved to Florida; all the new playgrounds I see sport colorful plastic complexes of slides, bridges, climbing walls, and tunnels. It was nice to see a that childhood classic still in place, and for just a moment, nothing changed.

If not for those five faces looking back at me.