Back home in South Carolina, my quiet place was a cabin my grandfather owned in the woods. He would take me out there to hunt andfish. The place was so quiet, you could hear the quietness. It’s the sound ofa tone that settles in your ear. As I got older, I use to go there to get awayfrom the city and city problems. I miss that place. A quiet place is something everyone needs regardless if they think so or not. To some, it may be their bedroom or bathtub, or any secluded place. Myquiet place here and now is Piedmont Park.Now that I reside in Atlanta, Georgia, Piedmont Park is a decent quietplace. Every Sunday I would go out to Piedmont Park and relax. It’s apeaceful place in such a busy city. I would find a secluded shaded area. Every Sunday was the same routine, I would prepare the night before. Iwould pack in a sack, a little blanket, a few Sade CDs, and a blunt. Lyingthere under the clear blue sky, smelling the fresh cut grass, and the sweetsmell of honeysuckle would take me into a trance. There would be couplespicnicking, and families barbecuing, there would be masters walking theirdogs, and kids throwing Frisbees. I would think about the previous weekand prepare myself mentally for the coming week. I would sit there forhours just relaxing and vibing on Sade. I think about all the time I havewasted. I think about how we all take time for granted. I remember one time I thought about time as a bank. Each day we arecredited $86,400 or 86,400 seconds. Every day we have to spend all of thatmoney, you can’t save or invest the money. To understand the value of aday, ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature child one day toearly, to understand the value of an hour, ask someone who is waiting for avital organ. To understand the value of a minute, ask someone who hasmissed the bus. To understand the value of a second, ask someone who hasjust been through a car accident. To understand the v...
