To get the most from one's trip into the Botanical Gardens, one must:
A. Accompany one's eldest sister and her orchestra into the environs. This exempts one from, ahem, any pecuniary obligation to the establishment.
B. While taking a (what do the kids call it?) selfie, be sure to look at the camera and not at one's boots, as you see the young lady in the center doing.
C. Step back and enjoy the light display while the sun sets.
D. Sit on the cold stone wall and wait for the camera's timer to go off. Try not to permit the smile freeze upon one's face.
E. Imperative that one visits the rose garden...even though the season might render the roses to better resemble sticks.
F. If no one's watching, do some ballet.
G. Do not carry along a laptop - not unless one wishes to have a dislocated right shoulder by the evening's end.
I...don't have a subtitle for this one. Ladies and gents - Katie!
And last but not least:
H. Relax as one listens to one's sister and her orchestra play seasonal songs. Huddle by the fire, avoid too much smoke inhalation, sip hot cocoa, sing and talk with one's friends, and smile at the passers by.
Follow all these guidelines, and one is certain to have a lovely evening, especially if one is riding home the same night to be reunited with family after a long separation!
Thank you for your patronage,
Yours etc,
- callie
