365 Things to Do in Memphis #188: Invest in Good Times

We need more silliness in Memphis, and it's up to you to make it. Assignment #188 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to invest in good times.

We need more street performances. We need more people who stand on street corners and wave at people who are driving home from work. We need dance parties and flash mobs and pop-up kickball games. We need more art projects, photo booths and lemonade stands.

If you need an example, here's a perfect one: When the Mayor's Innovation Team noticed that there were tons of kids hanging out in Tom Lee Park with nothing to do but pelt each other with sticks, they got some sidewalk chalk, balls and hula hoops and took them to the riverfront park. The kids (and adults) loved the spontaneous gesture.

That's exactly the kind of good times I'm taking about: small acts that bring joy to other people, that happen quickly and make people smile. Things like Ink-Offs, bands on the trolleys, spontaneous shows and miniature art projects.

If you don't engage in small-scale acts of civic whimsy, who will?

(Speaking of waving at people as they drive home from work, there used to be a man who stood at the corner of Walnut Grove and Holmes with his dog every afternoon and waved at drivers until he died in 2001. As a little tribute to him and a random act of merrymaking, I'm planning to stand at the same corner on Wednesday, June 11 during evening rush hour. There are a few of us going, so feel free to drive by and wave.)