“Make the most of summertime,
Before the best days pass.
Get away from street and pavements,
Walk upon the grass.
“Out in the Open”
by Patience Strong
Hubby has been trimming the roses after dinner on cooler evenings. Often, he comes in the house with a freshly blooming rose in his hand. We get a small vase from the cabinet and place it on the little table in the front hall.
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I hope you saw the sky last Tuesday evening almost at sunset. The sky was pink and orange over the Murphy School. The previous Wednesday, a busload of us senior citizens were coming home from the City Hall concert that was cut short by a heavy rain. We were moving along the Expressway when we looked toward the building with the whales painted on the side of it. The sky behind it was a fiery red color. We were amazed at the color, especially since we had just left City Hall Plaza, with its gray rain clouds.
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Last Thursday morning, which was a beautiful one with cooler temps, Hubby and I ate breakfast at just about 7 a.m. We were interested in going to the Coffee with Cops gathering at the Sweet Life Café at 2243 Dorchester Ave. We went a little early so we could be sure to get seats. We found a parking spot quickly. We walked into the Sweet Life Cafe and were asked to take a seat. A very pleasant man named Wallace Tilford introduced himself to us. (“Call me Wallace; my Dad was Wally.”) After he asked in what part of Dorchester we lived, he asked if we knew our neighbors the Peros. “Of course we know the Peros; we live right around the corner from them,” we answered. Wallace talked about the Pero babies. I must get a look at their photos. Next time I see Grandpa Charlie working in his yard, I will ask him to show me some photos.
Hubby then went up to the coffee machine and brought back two cups of delicious decaf. While I was drinking the excellent coffee, I saw Capt. Richard Sexton in the crowd of police officers. We were surprised that there were not a great many people at the coffee hour. Then I remembered that the Irish Pastoral Centre, located on St. Brendan Rd., had a coffee get-together for its members every Wednesday morning until noon. I went over and told the captain about that gathering. I told him that I thought that some of the people attending the Irish function would have undoubtedly been at the meeting with the police. There were several women attending the coffee hour from the senior apartments, which are across from the Cafe. I had a chance to meet Pat Miller, who is well known in the Lower Mills area. I also met Stephan Dean, a young man from Cape Verde who looked terrific in his white outfit. The police officer who had brought Stephan to the meeting told us that he had just graduated from high school and that he hoped someday to be police commissioner.
I must tell you that I was delighted to meet Boston’s Police Commissioner, William Evans, at the coffee hour. Capt. Sexton brought him over to meet us. He was so pleasant. I understand that he is originally from South Boston. After he left, I thought that I should have mentioned that we often watch episodes of “Blue Bloods.” I should have asked him if the series is any way close to reality. I must thank Kerry from the Crime Watch Division for bringing up two sweet rolls to our table. Hubby had a great time demolishing one of them. Before we left, I asked Capt. Sexton how former Community Service Officer Dennis Rorie was doing. The captain told me that he is in charge of the security for the City’s Health Dept. I told him that we still miss Dennis.
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A bit of trivia: James Michael Curley was the first mayor of Boston to have a car; its license plate was 576, the numbers of each of the letters in his name. Even today, the mayor of Boston’s official car has the 576 license plate.
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This lovely saying, which is a Chinese proverb, is very appropriate at this time of year: “A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses.”
