Parks and.................

I have this friend who reads a lot of those self help books. You know, the "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" kind of thing. To me, if you don't sweat the small stuff they turn into big stuff and then it may be too late. It's better to get them when they're small enough to manage. Of course, there are the one's that are out of your control.

I've heard from the dermatologist and the biopsy on the sample he took from my face is 98% OK, but that 2% could be a carcinoma. That was always a possibility due to the imuno-suppressants I take, but I didn't think it likely. So now, I have to go back next week and have it scraped and cauterized. You see, this is a small thing that I had to sweat, or it might've turn into something bigger.

I needed to do something to take my mind off of it. I took a ride to Merrill Park. I parked in the first lot I came to, and lowered the windows, just wanting to breathe in the warm morning air and eat a breakfast bar. That's when I saw the park worker on his little mini-truck.

I got out, and followed behind as he rode along, cleaning up the area. I had the Flasher out by my side but it didn't look like I was going to get a chance. Then , off to the side amongst the trees, I saw the old man. He was dressed in layers of heavy clothing, and I remembered seeing him pedaling his bike up the hill as I entered the park.

I turned away from the park worker, and angled toward the old man. He was isolated, probably on purpose. And there was no one else within sight. I moved to the right, and circled back around towards him.

I came up behind him.

He never turned around. He was focused on whatever he was doing. I approached as quietly as I could, looking around constantly to make sure there was no one else about.

Point, press, Flash.

He sagged over the table as I passed by on my way back to my car.

I thought about the other parks I'd staged Events in over the last year or so and decided to visit the ones near by. I was in Avenel, and decided to head to Roosevelt Park in Edison.

Being out early on a weekday has an advantage. Most of the other park visitors are older people, and they are usually focused on their walking, jogging, or whatever. I parked and walked around. There were a few possibilities, but the geographics didn't work. Until I saw this guy walking towards me

We were on the far side of the lake and I had just passed a copse of trees, but he was heading towards them. I stopped, pretending to stretch and catch my breath, and he walked past me. He was wearing headphones, so he'd never hear me coming up behind him.

I turned and followed, checking around me constantly. There were walkers on the other side of the lake, but no one near by. I narrowed the gap as we approached the trees.

Point, press, Flash.

I moved on, back to the parking lot and got into my car.

Two down, one to go. Alvin Williams Memorial Park in Sewaren.

It took about 20 minutes to get there, so it was close to 10 AM by the time I parked. There were people wandering the paths, jogging, dog-walking, whatever. Still, it was early enough to provide some opportunities. I got out and headed towards the path along side the bay. I decided to sit on one of the benches and see if anyone would pass by, rather then wander around. It didn't take long. I saw him coming from the left.

He was moving along at a good clip,and I fell in behind him, waiting for my chance. Again, I got lucky. The section by the refinery was coming up and it tends to be overgrown, partly - I think - to keep the ugly building hidden. I closed in.

Point, press, Flash.

I finished the circuit and got back in my car.

There's no place like a park for a little recreation.