A Very Ordinary Good Evening

8:30 last night I determined to make good on my resolution to walk at least half an hour before or after dinner. And so donning my walking shoes I started down the road and casually made for a full jog. Rounding the curve a block away I came across one of the loveliest homes in this neighborhood. As luck would have it, its normally heavily closed gate was open. A party was going on.

I slowed down my pace, approached the line of parked cars within its perimeter and strained to have a peek inside.

Wheeeeeeeew!! Golly to be!

The sight that beheld me was one of a seductively trellis lit orchid and Thai bamboo pathway leading to a corner part of the prettiest exotic garden I have seen lately. Voices, laughter and smooth classical music wafted from somewhere within....almost secret.

I wanted to stop and stare but had to fight the urge. A guest or a member might see me; manners dictate that I curb my inner garden neighbor peep hee! hee!. Oh' but truly, the home and its tropical garden was a dent of heaven. Sigh.

Increasing my pace, I rounded the next street. Didn't notice how much my soles were scrubbing through the pavement till I came upon the community park with its newly built open chapel. A group of praying ladies looked my way giving notice on how much squeeech my presence was slicing through the silence of the evening. Realizing this, I slowed to a walk and abruptly realized something else.

Mind chatter.

Yes, my mind seemed to be talking a mile a minute as I was jogging along.

The group of ladies were chanting....their soft echoing prayers filling the garden so much as the Dama de Noches were. Instinctively, I sat myself in a pretty wooden bench and rested a few paces hidden from them. My clanging mind hushed to their hypnotic murmurs of Our Father's and Hail Mary's. Before long, I too found myself uttering a prayer of my own.

Moments later, the voices stopped; goodbyes and good nights were softly extended between them. I too rose to resume my walk.

Finding my path back to the streets through the dimly lit garden, I chanced upon one of the ladies. "Good evening," she said. Her smile was full and genuine. Somewhat surprised, I too said "good evening" giving back a full smile.

Shy as I am, it's not everyday I give somebody I don't know a full smile...or get one from someone....

Then I realized the most important thing....Words don't always mean something.

And that the most mundane, trivial oft repeated word or phrase only gains its true measure of worth when said from the heart..

And last night...a moonless plain humid night....

.....and not even for some astoundingly important reason...

I felt the peaceful worth of a gem of an ordinary
"good evening."