[Mpls] flirting in public

[James Graham]

RT, you are so correct.  There are many things more important in the spring than politics. Thank God.  You may also see some loons and other wildlife along the Mississippi near the old showboat landing on the U of M campus. Loons, beaver, ducks, beaver, and woodchucks abound, as well as Looney college kids who are always fun to watch.   The River Flats Park has almost been destroyed by "progress" in the form of development.  This was probably the, per square foot, highest use park in the City and now it has been nearly destroyed to make room for hospital expansion.  Even though it is on the "campus", I hope the University will do a little mitigation for destruction of an area, (River Flats) which belonged to each of the residents of Minnesota. The green space is just as important as a huge asphalt parking lot that seems to be slated for replacing it.   I live in a neighborhood where watching wildlife in the park means watching drug deals and shoot-outs.  Peavey and East Phillips Parks, in one study completed two years ago, were identified as the most dangerous place to have an un-attended child in the Phillips neighborhood.  The River Flats Park, on the other hand, represents a safe place to walk and watch a different, and more enjoyable kind of wildlife.  Where the wildest thing was a, might be, errant Frisbee.  A long walk away down Franklin, or a short car ride, made this the favorite place to walk a dog or a great place to release live-trapped squirrels (they do not like to swim back you know).   So RT, keep the priorities straight.  Spring in the air, (and human heart), and mating rituals of loons are in the end what makes life worth living.  Especially, after the nastiness of a long cold winter, and before the nastiness that must come with an election year summer. Take the time to see what really matters and what memories we will cherish when the cold of winter once again cloaks our city.  When the memory of politics is a distasteful after thought, your soul will be better for having known what really is important.   May the joy of spring and love be with each of us "Loons"!!! Jim Graham