Concerts in the Parks

It just likes clock turning back to my childhood. The park nearby my family's place used to hold some outdoor traditional Taiwanese drama events a few days each summer. Under a still-bright-sunset, with feelings of delight and excitement, people around the neighborhood carried folded chairs and light food to the park. Children chased each other and followed by their barking puppies. Food vendors rolled their carts near the entrance. Those nearby could breath in many delicious aromas - grilled sausage, grilled squid, cotton candy, ice cream, and many of others. People dressed comfortably in T-shirts, shorts and cheap flip-flops. Their hair was still damp after a shower and they carried a light hand fan. I didn't really care what the performance was on the stage. Having family and friends around is the most important thing to me.

Last night, the Concerts in the Parks awakened my memory. After just one visit, I am sure you will love the music and the atmosphere there.

不知道大家有沒有跟我一樣有這樣的童年回憶：夏日傍晚，街頭找巷尾、樓頂招樓腳，只見到一群叔叔伯伯、嬸嬸阿姨、阿公阿媽帶著摺疊板凳還有一盤削好的水果，招呼著一群小鬼頭跑到旁邊的土地公廟前面看歌仔戲或是布袋戲。旁邊有好幾攤推車傳出陣陣香味，有烤香腸的、烤魷魚的、打彈珠的、棉花糖的、枝仔冰的很多很多。大家都是下了班、洗好了澡，換了一身簡單舒服的汗衫，拎了個小扇子就來了的。婆婆媽媽們往往會開始聊起來，哪一戶哪一戶的小姐已經長大了該相親嫁人了，哪一戶哪一戶人家的兒子或是女兒生了個男孩或是女孩了，又有哪一戶哪一戶人家是新搬過來的之類的。伴隨著漸層式的天光、夏日傍晚的夜風、飛上竄下的流螢、奔跑嘻鬧的孩子、婆婆媽媽的叨嘈聲、街坊鄰居的招呼聲、還有偶而傳來嬰兒的哭聲。突然地！長長的一聲嗩吶和著鑼鼓，讓這個夏日的小小露天「音樂會」在充滿台灣式的鄉土風情裡揭開序幕。而紐約的 Concert in the Parks 正是有著同樣味道的美式音樂饗宴！

夏天的夜晚總是來的特別遲，傍晚七時許，我們拎著自己做的三明治、飲料、水果，還有一張大大的野餐巾。在草地上或坐或臥地，伴隨著落日餘暉欣賞 New York Philharmonic 的演奏。 Concerts in the Parks 已經是第四十四年在戶外的活動了，恰好有熱心的朋友邀請，才能讓我在下了班之後躬逢其盛地參與。只見到老先生老太太們帶著野餐桌、野餐椅在草地上拿著銀製刀叉吃起 Cheese 、舉著水晶高腳杯喝起紅酒；新婚夫妻推著娃娃車，帶著剛學會走路的小寶貝在草地上追追跑跑；剛從學校放學的大學生，三三兩兩拿個好幾手啤酒高聲談笑。不論你的種族膚色，大家都在這裡和樂融融地享受這難得的夏日饗宴。

就在結束了熱烈掌聲後的 Encore 曲目後，在大草地的後方竟然放起了炫麗奪目的煙火！五光十色地照亮整片夜空，我從來沒這麼近距離看過煙火秀，這還真是我的第一次近距離接觸呢。而整個 Concert 也在這五彩繽紛的燦爛夜空下結束。我真的很愛這樣的感覺與活動。那種與家人朋友一同分享喜悅的心情，平靜、恬適與感動充滿胸懷。我們故意在草地上多停留了一會兒。大草地因為夜露而把野餐布沾得濕涼，微風也漸漸轉冷，工作人員已經進到草原上開始收拾裝備，草地上的觀眾也剩下不多了。我們靜靜地往車停的方向走去，不用言語，也可以感受到心裡那絲暖暖的感動人心。我真的很喜歡這樣的活動！

有興趣的朋友，現在還有兩場 Concerts 分別在 Brooklyn 區的 Prospect Park (Monday July 14th, 2008 ) ，還有 Manhattan 的 Central Park (Tuesday July 15th, 2008 ) 兩場。或許我們會在大草原的那一頭碰面喔！