A Red Nose

It was a beautiful day, so I decided to spend part of my afternoon in Portland, Oregon visiting two parks that this city is well-known for, the International Rose Test Garden and The Japanese Garden. Since Portland is called the Rose City, my first stop was the Rose Garden. The 550 varieties bloom from June into the fall, and during my visit in mid-September the three hillside terraces looking over the downtown was alive with color and fragrance.

On my way to the roses I first came to the children's playground and noticed a man and woman soaring high on the swings. That looks like fun, I thought, and paused to tell them so. Immediately after I got the words out of my mouth I looked closer at the man. Was that a red nose he was wearing? I just had to ask, "Why are you wearing a red nose?"

"Because this is our day to have fun and the red nose reminds us of that."

This is a very wise man, I think. What could be a simpler and more effective reminder to have fun than wearing a red nose? I mean, how could anyone wear a red nose and not have fun?

So, imagine my surprise when, two days later, I am in a store in Florence and spot a bin of red noses. Without hesitation, I buy two, because although I think I've got this "fun" thing pretty well figured out, it never hurts to have a reminder around. The other (?) because there may come a day when someone in my life needs a red nose, and I'll be ready.