Long Walks On Leafy Streets

4/12/2015 Second Street NW, Takoma, DC
Today has been a gorgeous spring day. As we were walking through the sunlit streets of Takoma Park I was telling Nicole that today must have been a great day for the cherry blossom tourists and all the people in Washington who make their living catering to them. It was warm with just the hint of a breeze and bright as any day has been. Last year we went to the tidal basin area with my parents during this time to look at the blossoms in all their splendor. It is always an enjoyable experience, not just the natural scenery but also the people who come from all over the world. This year we decided to stay home and enjoy the scenery around here. We were not disappointed. Several streets in our area have rows of cherries on them, as you can see from the picture.

Takoma Park, MD and Takoma, DC are changing right before our eyes.
Yesterday we had brunch at the newly opened Busboys and Poets near the metro station. This is the latest in a chain of similar restaurants that the Iraqi-American businessman Andy Shallal has opened in the DC area. They have become quite popular among progressive people in the community and I think he has a great sense of where the tastes and attitudes of people are going. The name is inspired by the busboy turned renowned poet Langston Hughes. They feature great food, a bookstore and live events such as poetry readings, films and discussions. It is all centered on social justice and advocating for peace and a better world. It is in keeping with the existing ethos of Takoma although the restaurant itself is spacious and elegantly furnished unlike the small, simple and intimate establishments that form its core. It is situated inside a large newly completed mixed residential and commercial development that has been under construction since just before we moved to this neighborhood. Other similar developments have just begun construction across the street from Busboys. Some people in Takoma have been protesting the new developments. I would myself prefer smaller scale of developments but compared to various other parts of metropolitan Washington I would say we have much less. Moreover most of it is clustered near the metro station, which has been more commercial anyway. It is going to bring more traffic but my hope is that most people who move here or visit will use the metro system more than car.

This week we moved closer to finishing the home renovation work that has been going on for several weeks now. The roof has been done and the AC installation is almost done. We feel a little bit relieved. I feel like I am getting myself prepared for the arrival of our baby boy. Not only in terms of the physical preparation but also mentally. I am learning to be calmer inside and just focus on the current moment. It is what you need to do when you are raising a child – to be always a calming and reassuring presence. It also helps you to work longer without getting tired. Thich Nhat Hanh says in “Silence” that even psychotherapists cannot do their work properly unless they learn to have a certain peace and spaciousness inside. We were watching a PBS documentary in the “Nature” series -- you can watch it on their website – about animals building shelters for their families. It was amazing how birds build these intricate nests one twig and strand of fiber at a time that can withstand strong winds and rain. In a way, that is what we are doing too with much less effort and difficulty.

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