"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:9

Question 9: Write a poem reflecting upon your bench experience or your impending high school graduation..

LIMERICK..

Suth

Five years have past, all so fast

I wish that I could make it last

I had some fun

Life’s just begun

Time to go, had a blast

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:8

Question 8: What is the purpose of a park? What are your thoughts about parks..

There are many purposes of a park. First and foremost, I think that parks are a place where people come to relax, spend time with friends, or take their dog for a walk. These are the main things in my mind that parks are there for but there are so many more purposes. Parks can be a National landmark, such as Central Park, or something more local such as, Stanley Park. Parks can host birthday parties, events, get-togethers, barbecues, sports games and more. Parks are also places of beauty. They are the definition of seasons as you can distinctly tell which season it is as they so clearly show it visually. Parks provide amazing photographs and create memories that will last forever. They are a place of peace, and in the present day they are a place that people can go to actually see some “green”. I also think that a parks purpose is to create a place where families can go to spend time and feel completely safe. There are parks that have bad reputations such as “Oppenheim” park in downtown Vancouver which is unfortunate. Although they may have a bad rep, they are still an important place to other people. That particular park is a place where a lot of homeless people spend their time, which may not draw such a family crowd, but it is just as important as any other park. I personally love parks. I think that it is great that are so many of them, because each one is unique in so many ways. Each has a sort of personality that it gives off just from being there. The trees, the paths, the people, the animals, the location, the water or lack of, the fences, signs, and so much more all make a park what it is. I think that everyone has at least one memory of them in a park whether it is from their childhood or not. They are places where anyone can go to spend time with family, friends, and pets at any time that they want. There are even parks for certain things or people which I think is great. There are specific children’s play-parks, dog trail parks, and just your everyday open parks for anyone. I think that parks are very important places in the world and that they should stay like that forever. 

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:7

Question 7: Explain how your poem connects to your philosophy of life..

This poem connects to my personal philosophy of life because I believe in a lot of what the poem is trying to say. I love to take pictures. I am trigger-happy when it comes to cameras because I think that as said, “a picture is worth 1000 words”. Every photo has a great story waiting to be told behind it. I think that photos, “bring fond memories”, and “recapture those old feelings” as said in the poem, and I believe that you can never have enough photos, as long as you have space to keep them all. This poem also connects with me because as grandparents age and become more and more frail, you start to realize just how much you are going to miss them if and when they go. Both of my grandpa’s have recently gotten sick and are not doing very well which has made me realize just how “precious” they are to me. I believe that it is the “old” things, and “old” people that are more beautiful because it is the memories behind them that make them so special. Of course there are “new” things, such as a newborn, which are beautiful too. But one day that same “new” thing or person will be “old” and full of memories making it that much more precious. 

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:6

Question 6: Choose a poem that suits your bench, and explain your choice. Include a copy of the poem.

I chose the poem, “Old Things Are More Beautiful” because I think that this bench is a perfect example of one the “Old” things that are so precious to us. This bench brings back all sorts of memories to a lot of people I’m sure. To the people that dedicated this bench, it must bring memories of their past loved one back and remind of them of their time together which they said they were so grateful for. To me, this bench reminds me of the time that I spent with my grandpa in the past, my childhood, and to other people I’m sure it reminds them of many more things. Maybe the first time they met someone, or just a really great day that they had. This bench helps people “recapture those old feelings” as the poem states, and reminds people to appreciate the little things, the things that sometimes we forget about because they have always been there or because we are too pre-occupied with the new.

Old things are more beautiful

Author: Clay Harrison

Old things are more beautiful

than many things brand new

because they bring fond memories

of things we used to do.

Old photographs in albums

love letters tied with lace

recapture those old feelings

that new ones can't replace.

Baby shoes, a teddy bear,

a ring that Grandma wore,

are treasures waiting there behind

a door marked "Nevermore".

Old things are more beautiful,

more precious day by day.

Because they are the flowers

we planted yesterday.

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:5

Question 5: Write a journal response about your trip to the park..

One nice January morning, my grandpa and I went for a dog walk down at Harbourview Park. It was a cool, sunny, winter day around 10:00 o’clock in the morning. We drove down in my grandpa’s Dodge Caravan,with the dogs in the backseat. We then found a parking spot in the small parking lot, and let the dogs go off leash. The trail starts off under a cover of trees, but eventually after about a 5 minute walk, it opens up and you are walking right down beside the water. At the end of the trail there is a lookout point there where you can go up some stairs to get a great view of the city. It is a very nice and not too busy trail. With the thought of finding a bench to write about for my blog in the back of my mind, I set off down the trail with my grandpa and our two dogs Kayto, and Molly. As my grandpa and I walked along, we passed a number of benches all with dedication plaques on them. I quickly read each one as we walked along, and eventually came across one that I thought was different from all the rest. As I explained before, the inscription was not just the regular, “You will be missed,” It had more detail and I really liked it. It was also in a great spot where you get an awesome view of Vancouver from across the water. I sat there for a minute or two with my grandpa talking about our plans for the rest of the day while enjoying the fresh winter air. The dogs continued running up the trail and after a nice break, we got up, called the dogs and started on our way back. On our way back we bumped into an older couple with an Airdale Terrier, the same breed as my dog, Kayto. We talked to them for a few minutes and found out that they named their Airdale, Gustaaf, because the Airdale is the “King” of the Terrier Family, and the King of Norway’s name is Gustaaf. We then carried on, walking at my grandpa’s slow but steady pace. We eventually made our way back to the car, dried the dogs off, and loaded them up to head home.

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:4

Question 4: If you dedicated a bench, where would you like the bench, and what would you like the inscription to say..

If I dedicated a bench, I would dedicate it to my grandpa because he is a big part of my life and I think that he would love to have a dedicated bench in his name. I would want the bench to be in a dog trail because my grandpa is always walking his dog. He walks his dog 3-5 times a day, sometimes even in the middle of the night. I would want the bench to be in one of my grandpa’s favourite trails, close enough to home so that I could visit it every now and then. I would make sure that the bench stayed in good condition every time that I visited. The inscription on the bench would take me a very long time to figure out. I would want it to say something about him that was very special and would speak true to any member of our family that read it. I would also want to add something about the man I thought he was. This would take me a long time because I could go on forever, and to narrow it down to a sentence or two would be extremely difficult. 

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:3

Question 3: If a bench were dedicated to you, where would you like the bench, and what would want..

If a bench were ever dedicated to me, I would not want it to be any ordinary bench. If possible I would want the bench to be unique because think that I am a unique person as everyone is different in their own ways. I would want the bench to be somewhere with an amazing view. Not necessarily in Vancouver, but somewhere where my family and I shared memories worth remembering. Somewhere that would be visited by people who would get to enjoy a comfortable, relaxing seat when they need it and read the dedication to myself. I would want the inscription on my bench to also be unique. I would want it to say something about my personality and the person that I was, just like in the bench that I chose to write about. Then I would want it say something that came from the people dedicating it, such as a short, simple goodbye, or a quote or something meaningful. I think that having a bench dedicated to someone is a really nice and thoughtful thing to do because it will be there for a long time and is a place where people can visit that is a little less depressing than visiting a cemetery. 

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:2

Question 2: From the bench, describe what you see, what you feel, what you think, what you want.. 

From the bench, I see my city of Vancouver from across the water. I see all sorts of different people with their dogs passing by as I sit there, and I see other wildlife such as birds all around. I can also see all of the wear and tear that the bench has received while sitting there year in and year out, left to brave the elements. I can see the shipyards on the right and the rocks in the water when the tide is out. This bench makes me feel relaxed and calm. It is very peaceful just sitting outside, with a nice cool breeze coming off the water. I also can’t help but feel like I have been in the exact same place before, almost like déjà vu. I used to go to Harbourview trail all the time with my grandpa when I was younger, and sitting there only brings up memories from the past. I can also feel the cold on my face, and the sturdy bench beneath me. From the bench, I think of all the people that must have sat here before me. I wonder if they sat in the exact spot, in the exact way that I am sitting. I think about all of the years and all of the snow, rain, wind, and sun this bench has seen in its life. I think about all my memories from the past that come to life from being here. I want this bench to support me as long as I sit there so that it doesn’t break and I fall flat on my butt. I also want the bench to be there for as long as possible because it means a lot to the people who dedicated the bench, and to the man that the bench is dedicated to.

"Ole Krarup's" Bench Q:1

Question 1: Visit a park, choose a bench, explain your choice, and describe your bench..

The other day I went to Harbourview Park with my grandpa for a dog walk. Harbourview Park runs right down beside the water, and it has a beautiful view of downtown Vancouver. I chose a bench that sits off to the side of the trail that looks across the water to downtown. I also liked the dedication that was on the bench. I thought that this bench had the perfect spot. Sitting on the side of a popular dog trail, with a great view, and I’m sure many admires of the unique dedication plate. Most benches just say the classic, “you will be missed’ but this particular bench had something a little more original. It wrote: “A stoic old man who worked hard and loved well” - Ole Krarup Jensen. “We miss you and are grateful for the time that we had together.” I thought that this was a really nice dedication on a bench that had amazing scenery. My bench is made of wood that looks like it has been there for a while. The dedication to the man on the bench was from 1945-2005 so I’m assuming it has been there for 7 years. The bench has three old, greeny-brown planks of wood that combine to make a backrest, and six planks that form the seat part of the bench. It stands on two strong metal legs secured into the ground that are painted green. The armrests on either side are also made of metal and are also painted green. Green bolts have been placed in either side of each plank to keep it sturdy, and the metal dedication plate sits right in the center of the backrest, green with gold writing. The bench sits on a slab of concrete that is a little wider than the bench itself, and has a chain link fence behind it, which runs along the majority of the side of the trail. The bench could used a little TLC as it shows some wear and tear, but then again it does add to its character.