Dear Mr. Trailing Spouse . . . quick hit

Dear Mr. Trailing Spouse,

Are there any secrets to be found in Elizabeth Park?

Perplexed By Parks

Dear PBP, 

Elizabeth Park is truly one of the loveliest wonders found in the West Hartford/Hartford area. During the spring and summer, a picnic near the famous rose garden makes for quite a beautiful and fragrant day. But, did you know that the rose garden itself is only one of 22 public rose testing facilities in the country? It is true. Visitors can experience experimental roses before they are released to the public.

Did you also know, my perplexed friend, that the rose garden has a very dark secret? Rumor has it that, if one person stands at the southwestern most point of the garden and begins to sing the song "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" at the same time as another person stands at the furthest northeast point of the garden and begins to sing "Bed of Roses" (by Bon Jovi), the hair metal god known as Balladus Maximus is summoned and appears in the garden's center gazebo? I personally have never seen this happen, but several local Demonologists have claimed it to be true!

So, beware on your next trip to Elizabeth Park! And, take this warning from Demonologist Bruce Spareparts: Only the sounds of a woodwind recorder can prevent the beast from appearing! If there is no woodwind, then Balladus Maximus will arrive and sully even the most mediocre of afternoons!