I can't believe they tore the lilac trees out.
First of all, hope you had a great weekend. I did myself; since it was the first weekend not Germany or in-law related in over a month, Loraine and I went on a date. And, since the the most wonderful things on the planet outside of Loraine also started to bloom, I also spent waaaaay too much time with my nose stuck in these--
And that's when I noticed the lilacs had been torn out.
One of my favorite places to sniff (and sniff, and sniff) is Father Marquette/Lakeside Park in Marquette. I usually sniff all the bushes by the statue, and then make my way behind the old LSCP building and sniff everything there. Only, when I finished sniffing the bushes by the statue and went behind the building, I noticed that all of the lilac trees that were there were torn out, probably as part of the conversion of the structure to the new City of Marquette Arts & Culture office.
The horror. Oh, the horror.
I don't know if tearing out the bushes was planned, or just a by-product of the construction. Nor do I know if the bushes will be replanted once everything is finished. All I know is that for decades now people have strolled into the park--for many, the one time they're ever there--just to sniff the buds. To not have them there any more is...just not right. I mean, if they're gone for a year or two, I think most people can handle that. But if they're gone forever?
That's just a loss beyond words.
Lest you think I'm resistant to change, I'm not. I'm happy that someone is taking over the old building, and that it'll soon be filled with artists and actors and every other member of a very vibrant Marquette arts community.. A city like ours needs a place like that. But to lose one of the things that drew people to a park that hardly anyone visits?
Well, that would be a shame. So on behalf of lilac-holics everywhere, I hope the bushes are replaced, and one day in the future we pay a visit to sniff one of the loveliest fragrances on the face of the planet.
You know--this fragrance:
(jim@wmqt.com), bummed lilac-holic
