Questioning Fieldnotes (What S.I.D?)

When I was younger I always looked forward to the weekend at my grandmothers house. I get to see my cousins, Anthony and Robby, and we get to do something for the day while we were there. Our favorite destination, Slater Park. We had the entire day to do what ever we want, visit and feed the animals, run through the strip of woods that separate the parking lot from the road to play football, or to run free in the playground. Also our favorite time to go to Slater was for the holidays like Halloween and Christmas because there were even more activities. Now a days the park has become a sanctuary for me because it brings me peace and claims me. There's something about being surrounded by trees and nature that is therapeutic and eases the mind, especially with the changing of the seasons the park is as colorful as ever. Also it became a hang out spot for my friends and I by accident. We just began walking around and talking one night and we continue to do so.
     What surprised me? There were actually a lot of people there that warm autumn day. There had to be about 35 plus cars in the playground parking lot with at least a mother and or father to each vehicle and about two children each. It was around four on a weekday usually when parents are at work as well so I saw it strange considering that I grew up in daycare centers and after school programs. Also I noticed by the playground area that there were more fathers or male adult figures at the park than females. Usually we imagine that the mother stays home and raises the kids while fathers bring home the check. Now the roles have switched, there are more stay at home dads than moms and to provide evidence for my claim there is a new show called Modern Dads on TLC I believe and its about a group of fathers that raise their children while the wives work.
     What intrigued me? Was the simple fact that just 10 years ago I use to regularly attend the park every other weekend to run wild and how it still plays a role in my life. In the six years I have been living in Pawtucket, about a five minute drive to the park, my sister and I would ride our bikes to Slater and ride around, sometimes we would attempt to play tennis. I would frequently visit the area to clear my mind when ever I was stressed out or just to go for a stroll. Now I still visit the area to hang out with friends or to relieve stress. Sometimes its strange to see how little life has changed when you get older. The park serves as different uses for me now than it has in the past but it is still part of my life.
     What disturbed me? There were only one thing that not really disturbed me but that I questioned afterwards. There was and older woman just outside the playground area and she was smoking a cigarette. Now it clearly says no smoking, in large white letters on the sign just inches above her head but did she pay any attention to it? No. The main reasons it bothered me was because she was in an area surrounded by young children who don't need to breath that toxic cloud in their lungs and I have asthma and the smoke was blowing in my face because of the wind. I was getting annoyed because she was oblivious of her actions and me almost dying while taking field notes. Its just not right.