Adventures at Dayton's Metro Parks

Omi's Note: In the process of writing this blog, I realized that Metro Parks, did not even have the park listed on it's website. There were also no pictures. That will change. I will make sure I take pictures of the Park. Stand by.

Despite the almost nil social scene in Dayton, Ohio, the Gem City has a wonderful park system. It has a park system that rivals many western European ones. There is a huge labyrinth of bike paths, great bridges, ill jungle gyms, and fun sprinkler systems for the babies. There is a wonderful nature trail in several of the parks, fishing, and great places to go boat riding.

Next to Island Metro Park, my second favorite park is the on named after the Pan Africanist poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar. I use it's jungle gym to work out sometimes. It has a great rope set that really helps one's upper body. I also use it to develop stamina and help with my “ups” (jump height). I do this by playing tag with the babies.

I dig Dunbar park because I often tend to meet some cool people there. The first day I came to Dayton, I visited Dunbar park (also known as Dayton View Park) to do some reading while waiting on a friend of mine to let me into her home about a mile up from the park. On that first day, I met a gang of good folks. Ever since then, I visited that part at least twice a week with my children except when it was too cold.

The other day I headed out there with my middle two, Amaris and Zumbi. My daughter and I videotaped ourselves doing au's (cartwheels). I somehow happened to place my right hand on top of a huge bumblebee which promptly stung my dumb city slicker tail. It didn't hurt. I don't remember a bee sting hurting me at all. I have not been stung since I was a child running around in Brooklyn. Yet my hand began to swell.

Like any big kid, I shrugged it off and we headed back to the jungle gym. I didn't want my babies to be stung. We ran into these three stocky boys. They were the same age as Amaris and Zumbi. They wanted me to help them with some movements. We all started doing pull ups and handstands. It was a dope building session. I showed them a few moves and taught them how to breath properly.

Every move I showed them, they followed to the tee. It was amazing. The babies never cease to amaze me. They even looked out for Zumbi who had a little trouble. We must have been there for hours since we all became thirsty. We headed to the sprinklers and all of them ran in. I should have gotten to meet their mothers. They would make great capoeiristas. Yet when it was time for us to go, they were gone. Another missed opportunity.

Man, did my hand swell.