COUSINS STOPPING TO SMELL THE ROSES

When Gloria was in my bridal party in 1975, it never occurred to me that we would be in Berkeley, California, together in 2024, stopping to smell the roses.

Last spring, as we arrived at Gloria and Steve’s, and after she served tea on the terrace and we chatted before going indoors for lunch, she suggested we wait for their daughter Elana to drive over and take us to places such as the Berkeley Rose Garden. According to Wikipedia, “The Berkeley Rose Garden is a city-owned park in the North Berkeley area of Berkeley, California.

“The rose garden is situated in a residential area of the Berkeley Hills between the Cragmont and the La Loma Park neighborhoods, occupying most of the block between Eunice Street and Bayview Place along the west side of Euclid Avenue, and west of Codornices Park.

“The Berkeley Rose Garden is in the form of a terraced amphitheater located in a small canyon and has views of the city and bay of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. More than 100 rose varieties grow along the terraces, with maximum blooming occurring in mid-May.

“The park is bisected by Codornices Creek. The north side of the Rose Garden includes a set of tennis courts. The south side is a grove of coast redwoods, bay laurel and coastal live oak trees.”

I didn’t ask Gloria if she remembered the flowers she held at my 1975 wedding. Sure enough, there were roses.

On that glorious day last May, being surrounded by the love of family and the beauty and smell of roses again was refreshing. We all need to take the time to stop and smell the roses. Doing it with cousins and sharing memories from our youth makes it even sweeter.

Berkeley, California Berkeley Rose Gardens May 2024

Steve and Arnee at Berkeley Rose Gardens

Elana, Steve, Gloria, Sharon, and Arnee

Sharon June 15, 1975

Gloria (far right)-walking down the aisle at my wedding on June 15, 1975