25Aug-Xtra-Photo Story – Stepping down toward the quiet shoreline of Shadow Cliffs during the height of the 2020 pandemic revealed a world paused in time, where a solitary wooden bench and still waters captured an eerie, lingering stillness that replaced our usual daily chaos. For myself, nothing said “COVID” more than this stark reminder of how much we gave up.
25Aug-Xtra-Photo Story
Reflections on a COVID Benchful
25Aug-Xtra-Photo Story
Walking the familiar shoreline trail at Shadow Cliffs usually meant constant vigilance and lively energy. In normal times, a trip down to the water was a exercise in management, ensuring the girls didn’t overwhelm fellow parkgoers or accidentally knock over senior citizens in their enthusiastic rush to say hello. The moment they were freed off-leash, a joyous explosion of motion followed: a frantic minute of chasing, breaking into playful packs, plunging into the lake for a quick cool-off and a slurp, and returning to shake cold lake water directly onto their humans. Staying near the bench, normally full of resting/chatting humans, was essential just to manage the jumping and energetic play.
25Aug-Xtra-Photo Story
In early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped daily routines, that vibrant atmosphere evaporated into an unfamiliar silence. On this particular afternoon, the usual commotion was completely absent. Even the dogs seemed to sense the shift, standing motionless along the bank and gazing quietly toward the water and the empty wooden bench, trying to make sense of the sudden emptiness. The solitary bench resting on the gravel shore against the calm, flat reflection of the lake framed a poignant snapshot of a world put on hold, prompting the title “a COVID benchful.”
Looking back at this image today serves as a stark reminder of how deeply those quiet months altered our shared spaces and daily rhythms. While the empty bench and still waters at Shadow Cliffs captured a surreal, heavy moment in history, they also highlight the comforting endurance of the landscape itself. As the normal bustle, playful dogs, and lively parkgoers have returned to the water’s edge, this photo remains a lasting tribute to a unique time when even nature seemed to pause and take a collective breath.
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