I was driving to the the Fourth Street Fantasy Convention this afternoon and, again, because the Twin Cities are so full of life, I saw things that I wanted to capture in words (since driving and photographing, especially with my big tank, would be dangerous). I’ll share a few things, then I expand with my own expository on some of the issues.

• Since I’m staying in Como Park, I’m right off of Lexington. Lexington was backed up almost to Larpenteur with people going to the park. Bikers, walkers, sunbathers, and zoo-goers were flocking to the absolutely gorgeous Como Park. This is one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever seen. It has gorgeous buildings, rolling green hills covered by multitudes of trees and other vegetation, and captivating bridges. I’m often transported to a different time when I pass through this park.
• After passing through the park, going toward I-94, I passed through a different neighborhood. It’s doesn’t have the finely manicured lawn and gardens with impeccably maintained homes of the more northern Como Park adjacent neighborhoods. The lawns are longer, flowers are leggy, and homes may need a good painting. But this neighborhood makes me think more of childhood memories (although I never lived in a neighborhood like this — ever). I can imagine children riding bikes down the sidewalks, kick-the-can happening in the streets, and the local dog following the child with the dripping ice cream cone, hoping to get a taste.
• For only the second time in my life, I passed through the I-94 tunnel. I love tunnels. I was so excited to pass through it, and since traffic was backed up due to road work, I was able to enjoy it even longer.
• Every time the Basilica comes up on the horizon, I gasp. It is so stunning and large and jumps up out of nowhere. Along those same lines, I feel the same way about the Mississippi River. Today, surrounded by lush green vegetation, I could imagine Huck Finn cruising down it.

Now. I have some other thing to say:

• Are those teenaged girls absolutely insane? Do they not know that lying in the sun can lead to skin cancer? ARGH. I wanted to go be an old lady and admonish them.
• Drivers in the Twin Cities are as passive-aggressive as they are when speaking to them. Speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down. Put on your damn cruise control and go a steady speed!
• The further east I went, I noticed how white the and more expensive the cars got. Suddenly I was surrounded by BMWs, Saabs, Mercedesssss, and gone were the Hondas, Nissans, and Chevy vans (seriously). It’s a bit disconcerting, to say the least.

Ok. I’m done being a cranky old woman. I’m gonna hang out at the con now, and learn more about expository, sex, and all kinds of other things.