Good Morning Fort Payne Friends,

The weather is beautiful and it is a lovely time to be outdoors.  Going for a walk or a run in the park is a great idea.  I was at the Susie Stringfellow Life Meditation Garden in the Alabama Walking Park yesterday and it was so beautiful.  Fort Payne Main Street got a grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama made possible by the Susie Stringfellow legacy to create this Open Space Sacred Place.  The Garden was built by love and hard work on the part of Twelve Oaks and the City of Fort Payne.

The disappointing part comes when I get a call each day to tell me what has been done to vandalize this beautiful garden.  I even got a call over the weekend.  How disappointing that someone does not respect public property meant for all to enjoy.

I was very distressed yesterday when I was looking at the latest disruption of the garden.   A couple from Cherokee County walking by the garden stopped to sit on the bench and share with me how beautiful the garden was and that they enjoyed sitting after walking to just relax.  That gave me encouragement for which I was thankful.  I also noticed that the book box had some books in it to share with others.  Someone had taken the time to bring books to share.  Again I was encouraged.

I am choosing to focus on the fact that more folks are appreciating the garden and the book box than the few who are choosing to damage the garden.  We will have camera coverage this week so perhaps we can help whoever is doing the damage to rethink destroying property that was meant for all to enjoy.   We hope that all of you will come and enjoy the garden and take the time to relax and just have some quiet time maybe even read a book.