A World Apart

We had a Memorial Day party. Lots of different people came which makes for a great party. There was a fat guy with dreadlocks who worked only on occasion. But when he did, he made lots of money taking truckloads of illegals across the border. Another guy loaned money to illegals at very high interest rates. The loans were rarely paid back before he tripled or quadrupled his money. Beautiful women and men, housewives and drunks, dipping into the pasta salad and pizza from the barbie. The tiramisu, homemade by Umberto, was the best I've ever had and a big hit. The food and drinks softened the crowd so they could mingle, laugh and tell stories, some stories were quite interesting.

And everyone loved the garden. They liked the mystical state the vegetable garden gives at night with all the solar lights spilling radiance here and there along pathways and outcroppings. They liked the grapes that hung from the rafters of the arbor filling their sacs with juice for the summer harvest. The peppers fattening and the tomatoes plump and near ripe for the first BLT sandwiches of the year. The evening was warm and pleasant with a fire in our pit to keep the hint of an evening chill at bay. Its flames called for people to gather and talk with drink in hand to loosen their tongues. They spoke of hopes and their fears, for many, fear is an issue, fear fuels anxiety and gives it strength. It reminds me of the Catholic prayer at the time of the Eucharist, 'save us from needless anxiety.' Apparently, people have worried needlessly for a very long time.

John's worried about a proposed bike path planned across the street from him. He's afraid it will bring people on bikes and they'll be in danger because the path will bring people with dogs, kids will get hurt because the bikes will crash into dogs and the kids who come to look at a cemented-in river. The city will use ugly asphalt instead of the crushed granite he prefers. Even though ugly asphalt is cheaper and much easier to maintain, if you're a homeowner in a upper-end section of town, you want the best.

Some came to see Wally while he is still able to sit with them wearing a smile and a laugh playing on his lips before the inevitable happens. The doctors give us a year, maybe two at the most, before that happens. But we're not giving up hope until then. Our magic garden, friends, and life will not pass us by yet. And maybe, just maybe, if we keep the magic going will pass by that inevitable moment and keep going on forever with our garden parties and friends.