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62. A Special Moment in Time

Throughout the retirement years, Alphy and Margurita spent a lot of time enjoying each other’s company. Margurita always had a profound interest in nature, and throughout their married life, this interest had rubbed off on Alphy. In the spring of the year, Margurita would often go for walks, or just sit outside on the veranda. She would invite Alphy to join her, and together they would listen to the sound of the frogs in the nearby pond. Margurita would also initiate walks in the woods. One of the couple’s favorite spots was along the babbling brook. It was along this same brook that the couple had spent their earlier days in courtship. The terrain they walked on was also the same location where Alphy had taught his children and grandchildren how to fish trout.

The couple would now go to the brook daily. They walked side by side, sometimes in silence, but more often engaged in conversation. Alphy usually kept his hands in constant motion as he talked. Sometimes Margurita would gesture at him to be silent, and they would both stop in their paths to listen to the sound of the birds, frogs 0r crickets. They would pause for a moment to observe the wonder of nature all around them. One of their favorite sounds was that of the babbling brook. The couple would often take a snack with them and sit by the water, listening to the brook rushing downstream, gurgling through the brush and fallen twigs.

Margurita especially enjoyed the spring as this was the time of the year when the brook’s gushing sound was at its loudest, and the trout seemed to swim faster. One day, Alphy decided to build a little dam and water wheel at their favorite meeting place, along the brook. The couple made many trips to this place, leaving a well-blazed trail

in the woods.

On their return from the brook one pleasant day, Margurita was

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