As providence would have it John's uncle, the musical one, was there with his wife of over six decades. They brought a guitar and we cloistered ourselves in a room full of puzzles to sing. Although the median age was three quarters of a century the lyrics spilled off our tongues like water unleashed from an eager tap. Since it was Flag Day we picked a few rousing patriotic songs, plus a smattering of hymns, ballads and camp fire tunes. Ben joined in on "If I Only Had a Heart" but mostly gave his attention to fitting pieces in a picture of a kitchen. 

The conversation between melodies drifted to the war, and by that I mean the one that preceded deserts and jungles. Several people retold stories about those pivotal days when teenagers jumpstarted to men, and what they faced when they were eighteen months older than the boy on the floor. Then someone would ask for Edelweiss and we would brush the sadness away like unwanted dust.

The guitar player and his wife have been crooning side by side for a long time. It was precious to see her offer up a phrase and his fingers respond by dancing on the fret board, his deep voice resonating with hers like two colors in a piece of fabric. There were no surprises. She never asked for a song he did not know. But they have something better than surprises. 

They have history, or should I say theirstory.