Twilight Square

It's dusk, and night is falling on our little town square. It might not look like much, but the townspeople are rather proud of this place with its fountain and its white colonnades. It's rather more homely than grand, made lovely more by familiarity than any architectural distinction. It's a brisk night, and the breeze carries with it the smell of popcorn and the murmur of voices. In the middle of the square is the town's fountain, erected by some local dignitary, now long gone. Its pedestal is carved from an unusual pink granite, which shines in the twilight, as water cascades from one marble basin to the next. Nearby at a table, two old friends play chess. Laughing, as one loses a bishop a bit too early in the game. The fountain fills a shallow round pool with a broad granite lip. It's quite comfortable to sit on. And if you do, perhaps to enjoy the cool breeze and the way the fountain drops play on the water's surface, you can't help but notice the constellation of copper coins shimmering at the bottom of the pool, each one representing someone's wish. That's a lot of wishes. I know this place well, its features and its characters. And it's my great pleasure to describe them to you this evening. However, before I do, I think it's nice to begin with a little wind down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you're ready, let's begin. So first get yourself comfortable. Now, just bringing the attention to the breath. Just notice where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We're going to take a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin, in for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great, now returning the breath to normal. A little garden is found on the north end of the square with a bountiful variety of plants. A wrought iron fence surrounds the garden to deter any mischievous animals from visiting. After the sun sets, a drip irrigation system comes to life to nourish the garden's residents. The water awakens the rich mineral smell of soil and greenery. Roses are abundant in this space. You'll find pink damask blooms that smell of orange honey, musky lilac tea roses, and pink centifolias reaching toward the sky like full moons balanced on a spiky stem. Strung above the garden are little globe lights that...