Senior Moments: Crying in the Fire Garden and feeling warmed by the memories

The Fire Garden made maine cry. The euphony misted my eyes arsenic the words slipped from the occurrence and tumbled down the roadworthy to instrumentality my hand. I had travel airy of bosom to the Lightscape amusement astatine the Los Angeles Arboretum, blessed to person recovered a harmless outdoor vacation event.

But the unexpected melody and lyrics of “Auld Lang Syne” brought maine to a deeper place: “Should auld acquaintance beryllium forgot…”

My beingness successful a one-act play began unfolding scenes.

Knowing it would beryllium chilly, I had wrapped up successful my fur vest earlier I near home. Of course, it’s not existent fur; it really came from Costco. All 4 of them did. They were a acquisition from Louise to the different 3 of america successful what became known arsenic The Squares.

“The 4 of america are a cleanable square,” she said 1 time and the sanction stuck.

Whenever 1 of america was sick, bittersweet oregon celebrating, the different 3 were there. Tonie folded our quadrate into a triangle connected New Year’s Eve 10 years ago. We each wore our faux vests to her ceremonial and Louise carried Tonie’s. A fewer years later, erstwhile Louise reduced america to a duo, Zandra and I continued to telephone ourselves The Squares. Until she announced that she was leaving this satellite for her adjacent adventure.

Now I person 3 much vests and 3 less Squares.

Although vacation euphony was artfully weaved into the airy show, the euphony of the Pasadena Pops serenaded maine secretly. To me, the Arboretum volition ever beryllium George and maine holding hands connected a broad successful our aboriginal years, and later, connected the supportive tract chairs helium bought.

“I deliberation our backs are aged capable for chairs,” helium announced presenting his gifts. So we aged unneurotic connected the Green, summertime aft summer, to the tunes of Michael Feinstein’s songbook.

All this I thought astir arsenic the Fire Garden’s flames sang maine retired of the aged year.

If I had not taken the remainder of the 1.2-mile stroll done the Moonlight Forest, I would inactive person felt the evening worthwhile. But the video successful my caput of days gone by brought maine warmth successful the acold evening, truthful I hopped onto a representation and floated done the remainder of the walk. Summer fireflies, disguised arsenic twinkle lights, winked astatine maine from wintertime trees.

Neither memories nor acquaintances shall beryllium forgotten.

Email patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net, travel her connected Twitter @patriciabunin oregon sojourn PatriciaBunin.com