It’s as if the world stops on a Sunday. For just a few hours everyone takes a break. Long lasting memories are formed from the moments when one rests and lingers for a second longer. A weekly summer excursion to La Grande Jatte makes time stop and people breathe lighter.

The weather is perfect. The light breeze brushes along the water’s surface, filling the air with freshness. The calm river is home to little boats and avid rowers. Little boys push their paper yachts along its surface while their mothers keep watch from a distance, holding on to their childlike delight. Little girls chase butterflies, their giggles singing through the air like a lullaby. Open umbrellas protect fair-skinned ladies from the sun’s ever so harsh rays.

Little boys play tag as mothers catch up on weekly chatter. Younger girls look up to the older woman in admiration, straightening their postures subconsciously. Reaching out to feel their lavish materials, and dreaming of the days when they will adorn the same luxuries. In all their grace and glamor, ladies appear to float along the grass. Their corsets display their slim figures while their bonnets mysteriously hide the secrets in their eyes.

The sweet smell of flowers drifts along the breeze as bird wings flutter overhead. Some remember loved ones lost as they hold on to memories never forgotten. Young girls nearby talk of their dreams of the future and of the boys along the river edge as their knitting needles click to and fro. The sun in the sky looks down on the Sunday afternoon with pleasure. The ribbons and bows on the dresses on little girls bounce, moving to the joyous rhythm of the day, chasing the glorious sunlight. Couples walk hand in hand, breathing deeply the perfection of the moment.

Older men relaxingly enjoy a cigar, their walking sticks tucked safely under their arm. Staring out to the river they think back on days passed. Picnic baskets lay open, uncovering sweet lemonade and snacks. Animals happily join in on the action. Digging their noses into the green grass, sniffing for food and searching for a mate. The rustling of the trees sing a harmonious melody, slowly moving the day along. The shade they provide invites those looking for a rest from the sunshine. A young couple in love lean in close and whisper sweet nothings, enjoying the blossoming of something so pure and beautiful. Men put away business deals for a few hours as they peacefully stand along the river with their fishing rods prepared for possibility. An older lady hums a tune to herself in content, walking past the younger generation, excited for the future and possibility glistening in their eyes.

There is a certain serenity in the air. Everything moves slowly, latching onto the smooth beat of the day. The elderly hold on to the day with more fervor, while young children play as though it will never end.  It is along the riverside that everyone comes together. Together as one, they take a deep breath. Holding on to memories past. Expectant for days to come. More days such as this when the weather is perfect, the breeze just right and the hum amongst friends lingers. More days such as this where peace floods the air and memories play out slower. More days such as this when everything seems right with the world.