Solstice, Solitude and Paul Simon

“You see, it’s like loving ‘Graceland’, it’s not allowed to be,
but we all know it’s everybody’s favourite,
deep down in the place where music makes you happiest.”
– Allo Darlin’, 2010

It is the day of the summer solstice. The longest day of the year, at least in terms of available sunlight hours. There have been other days this year that have felt like the longest day, even without the sunshine.

I sit in Kelvingrove park, in that particular place that I love the most, where the sun shines brightly overhead in cloudless skies, avoiding the trees and it remains uneclipsed by branches even as it starts its slow, final descent. I sit alone on the freshly-shorn grass, my resting journal in my lap, my pen tapping lightly on the pages. My solitude is interrupted only by curious, panting dogs that have been lured in by the smell of lemon cous-cous and falafel. At least, I assume that is what is beckoning them over, unless they have a penchant for lavender body wash.