Lunar Orbiter Space Needle Treat
THE EVENT OF THE SEASON.
We sat at a table of time.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Five friends gathered for a lighthearted lunchtime celebration,
say, “Hi” and “Ta-ta for now”—one moves to new destination.
Tasty lunch leftovers—I woke up at midnight to reheat a slice
of pizza—delightful, sugar and spice friendships without price.
We sat at a table of time.
Tick, tock.. Tick, tock.. Tick, tock..
Conversations replayed half a century ago—vintage turntable,
working at the Space Needle—watched stars like Betty Grable.
The ceramic “Haystack in the Needle”—always a playful laugh,
dessert Lunar Orbiter ice cream dish—floating on a cloud bath.
We sat at a table of time.
Tick, tock, tick… Tick, tock, tick… Tick, tock, tick…
Oh, how the years fly by, while sharing this life of change,
at times a tear in an eye—maybe laughter too silly or strange.
I don’t recall the lunch discovering we were “the lefty” bunch,
no worry about elbow fencing—stabbing right-handed crunch.
We sat at a table of time.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…. Tick, tock, tick…. Tock, tick…. Tock….
Long ago birthday celebrations to the grinding Hurdy Gurdy.
A scary pandemic, germy-germy—felt alone and topsy-turvy.
This fresh time for friends gathering—a renewing completion.
No rhyme or reason—our lunch, “the event of the season.”
April Ryan is a Washington writer and poet who has been frequently published in Northwest Prime Time.
SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
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