Springtime in Boston
George at the entrance of the park
Spring has emerged as my favorite season in New England. It’s brief, but after enduring a long and often harsh winter comprised mostly of grey sky and dirty snow, this colorful season is a welcomed reprieve!
Bare trees transform into beautiful bouquets that I wish would last longer then a few brief weeks. In the Back Bay we have the privilege of enjoying two blossoms. First the Magnolias, Apple Blossoms, Dogwoods etc. bloom on the north side of the street then they bloom on the south side about a week later. Tulips- red, pink, yellow, white and orange are everywhere! This is particularly true in the Boston Garden.
On this particular Friday afternoon, I’m sitting in the Boston Garden with nowhere to be. I’m grateful that I have the time to sit and enjoy the peaceful yet entertaining surroundings while perched on the wall of the bridge. The pond is dark green almost brown and filled with ducks, swans and Canadian geese. The swan boats are out. Kids are everywhere laughing and chasing birds and each other. There are a few artists painting pictures. Tourists stop on the bridge to take photos; some stop to watch a woman who is spontaneously composing a ballet dance to the music a man is playing on his accordion.
As I listen to the french song he is playing, I can picture myself in Paris along the Seine on the Ile Saint Louis and just across from Notre Dome Cathedral. When I was there in March, eating Berthillon ice cream, a man was playing the accordion in the rain. Oh, the charm of Paris and Boston!
On this day, the park is filled with a mix of foreign students on a scavenger hunt, leisurely strollers, power walkers, dog walkers, and commuters on their way home from work or to happy hour. It seems as if everyone who stops on the bridge has a camera.
It’s a warm sunny day with a clear blue sky only divided only by a sky scraper flying in the center of it.
I occasionally sit in the park, but I mostly walk through it or around it. On this day, I am thoroughly amused by all that I observe. I saw a professionally dressed man, late fifties/early sixties pretending to tap dance as a man breathed into his saxaphone (U2 fans know this phrase). At first I thought he was drunk, but then I realized that he was just enjoying the music. You had to see him.
I’ve lived in Boston long enough to recognize the park musicians, but this was the first time in many years that I lingered long enough to appreciate them.
I’m glad I did.
Washington DC Circles
I have family and friends in DC, so I visit quite often. Over the years, I’ve learned to maneuver many circles in DC including Dupont and Logan, but I’m still learning about its social circles. I find people in the District to be very friendly and skilled at the art of conversation. No surprise due to the transient nature of the District and the highly educated pool of workers it attracts.
Locals have mastered the art of sizing people up with a few brief questions. They quickly determine where you stand socially & politically. If you work on the Hill and have access to appropriations or anyone deemed to be influential, you are in good standing. As a Bostonian who works in the technology industry, I suspect I am placed into a neutral category or in the same as the mutual friend making the introduction since we are also often judged by the company we keep.
Regardless of location, I suspect that many conversations at cocktail parties or networking events begin with the same questions:
“What do you do?/Where do you work?”
“How did you meet/how do you know so-and-so?”
“Where are you from?” How long have you lived in X ?”
I suppose we do this to establish common ground. While the questions may be the same, the value of the answers differ regionally. Do you agree?
About
I have 15 years of experience advising senior executives on communications and marketing strategies to build brand, market share and to drive sales leads.
Travel is my passion. I have explored more than 100 cities in 16 countries on 3 continents. I am interested in people and places both far and near. From time to time, I update my blog to share my travel experiences.
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People, Places: Raison d'être 
