Ortestraka on mother's day.

Turner and I went to the symphony orchestra tonight for Pops in the Park. Each Sunday, the Tucson S.O. performs at Reid Park from 7 - 9 for free (they pass a donation basket that Turner ran down, literally, he ran the man down to give him our $5). Since it was Mother's Day, they played lots of bubbly tunes and several from the Sound of Music.
We packed a picnic and 45 seconds after Turner was up from his nap, we were out the door (not really, but it was pretty fast). On our short drive there, I tell Turner about the first time I went to the orchestra in Baltimore, and how beautiful it was. I explain to him that the music, when it is inside, fills your ears so much that you feel it inside your body as though it is beating with your heart and tapping behind your eyes. He giggles. I tell him I went to the orchestra with CiCi, and I tell him how much she enjoyed the orchestra too. We practice a bit how to say orchestra. His way wins out. I tell him how much fun I think CiCi would have at the park with us. He asks if there is an ortestraka in Kentucky. I tell him yes there is an orchestra in Kentucky, and Turner says that CiCi should just go there sometime and then he could tell her about our ortestraka and she could tell us about hers. I tell him that sounds like a novel idea.
We get to the park, and I put Turner on parking spot identification duty. As always, he locates us a spot right up front. "Whew Mom," we've been looking for several minutes, "that was getting awfully close wasn't it? Didn't think we would find one but we did." I am glad he is excited.
We find some grass (Yes, there is some very un-environmentally friendly grass in the desert) and spread out our blanket. We unpack our lunch boxes. Turner had cheese and cracker sandwiches, and he politely sat through my telling about eating these sandwiches while at the lake and once eating them with soggy crackers because my sister stood over me dripping her life jacket water into my lap. We also had corn on the cob, special water, strawberries with chocolate, and I roasted some vegs that Turner wouldn't touch but the old man next to us said smelled delish.
For an hour and twenty minutes we ate and listened to the music. We couldn't see the orchestra, we could only look out over the baseball field and the slides because we got there too late for spots on the other side of the hill. Turner watched the boys play kick ball for awhile while he ate. He cut paper as a distraction for a bit. The rest of the time he alternated between cheese and putting his head on my arm.
At intermission Turner ran down the hill to the playground equipment. He danced with some elderly woman next to a sculpture. The woman, probably a grandma to one of the four little boys playing with Turner, was hearing music that none of the rest of us could hear. Turner must have heard it too because they swayed together for a bit. Then he was off playing chase or tag or whatever. He was the youngest by far, but he didn't give up. As the music came back up, Turner came back to the blanket as I'd requested. He ate some more. Then went to a special ice tree, where he and another little girl threw ice for five songs. As the last song came up, Turner was chasing Angelina (another 4 year old) down the slide. When I told Turner it was time to go--America the Beautiful in the background--he leaned over to Angelina and whispered, "Do you wanna come over to my house?"
Angelina's mother and grandmother were nearby. They got tickled. I told Turner that I didn't think tonight was the best night for new houseguests, but that it was thoughtful. He asked if the little girl will be back the next time. I offer "next week?" He says, "Yeah. Will you be here then?" Angelina says she doesn't know. Her mother confirms that yes she will be there. The mother and I talk about the orchestra and I learn this goes on every Sunday and that it lasts until September. We make small jokes about monsoon season. As Turner walks obediently to the car, which is rare when leaving the park, he says, "You know Mom. The ortestraka isn't that bad. I think we should go even when it isn't special mom's days."