The Precipice and Escape to Summer

Sunday May 7, 2023 at Sheep Meadow. 3:19pm. It's the peak season for a picnic in the park. I am on the cusp of graduating from college after a grueling four years. But when I arrive to the scene I am no longer plagued by those heady thoughts. I stand still and take in the sights and sounds around me. In the beauty of this moment--the laughter that rings, friends unfolding their picnic sheets together, the buzzing conversations, the umbrella stand selling ice cold water, the games of spike ball scattered across the field--it feels as if everything has led up to this. A sliver of leisure, of enjoyment, of good company. I hope this picture offers people a snapshot of what I now think of to be as what the perfect New York summer gathering in Central Park looks like. But more importantly, I hope for people to gain a glimpse of what it feels like to be in that park: the soft breeze that wraps around you, the heat licking your skin, and the grass grazing your every step.