concerts in the park
by Kay
The concerts in the park have ended for the summer.
Concerts start around 6:30 on Thursday nights, although no one seems to mind if they run a bit late. Folks start arriving around 6:00 to set up folding yard chairs and get their ice cream and pie. Different groups and clubs take turns sponsoring the ice cream social. When The Old House Society sponsors the ice cream social, I take over my chocolate cake. Joan takes her rhubarb pie. Dave usually has the job of dipping the ice cream.
Some of the fun (although I shouldn’t admit this) is watching from our front porch as folks parallel park. The average age of the audience might be around 70 or so. 
Parallel parking becomes a group effort, with the wife getting out and directing from the curb. Mostly, they do just fine. We park in back though, just in case.
The little community band begins with The Star Spangled Banner. Then they play a few show tunes and some Sousa marches. From the front porch, everything sounds a bit like Begin the Beguine. The concert always ends with Amazing Grace.
I’m sorry to see the concerts end. As sure a sign of fall as students returning to campus, is the end of the concerts in the park.
My parents used to go to all the part concerts. Once, driving home from work, I went by the concert. I stopped the car and looked for them…. but I couldn’t find them. Everybody there looked exactly the same: little old man with high pants, white haired ladies with appliqued sweatshirts!
(but as I make fun of them, I will admit that I can’t parallel park either!)
Growing up, my mom, brother and I went to concerts on the beach every Wednesday night. I always felt so sad at the end of the season because it meant that summer was ending, that I would miss those nights and the way that cool sea breeze felt on my sunburnt skin. I don’t think they hold the concerts there anymore, but I always look back on those times with such affection. Cherish those nights!