WE'RE SPOILED — Sharon Mark Cohen

After spending an afternoon in The Metropolitan Museum of Art perusing the exhibit “Play It Loud/ Instruments of Rock & Roll,” my husband had a similar reaction to mine. We’re not musicians and our take away was that it was not so exciting after having been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and experienced Bethel Woods in New York State many times. At the exhibit in New York City, it just seemed like there were a lot of guitars…seen one, seen them all. He’s right, we’re spoiled.

Spending time on the second floor of The Met, once again viewing the Impressionist works…a favorite, allowed us the joy of reliving our trip to France and our enchanting visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverney, in 2000, in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary. After our fill of the Monets, seeing the Seurot masterpiece on a nearby museum wall brought us to a simpler time in life and also reminded us of the Broadway productions of Sunday in the Park with George, which we thoroughly enjoyed and would love to see yet again. Yes, I’ll say we’re spoiled.

Then, before taking a short ten-minute drive to Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, to once again see their world-renowned Cherry Blossoms, I snapped a shot of the Magnolia tree in our yard in full blossom. As one friend remarked on Facebook after an afternoon driving around Branch Brook Park this season, “…such God-given beauty.” We’re fortunate to have it right here at home. We’re absolutely spoiled.

We extended our enjoyment of the beautiful spring day with the beauty of more full-blossomed Cherry trees in white, light and dark pink at the park nearby where we met nearly 50 years ago and in which we became engaged in the summer of 1973. Warinanco Park in Union County, New Jersey was walking distance from our homes for my husband and me, just blocks from where we were raised on the opposite sides of the park. We’re definitely spoiled.

Magnolia tree in blossom at our South Orange, New Jersey home April 14, 2019

Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossom Festival April 14, 2019