Moonie and I stopped into The Parlour last night to check out “Quahog Quorale,” a group my friend Jennifer participates in that advertised their latest gathering as “a quorum of quadlibetic quoristers questing a quantuplicity of tunes.” We didn’t know what to expect, but we found a circle of women and men of all ages happily belting out all kinds of ditties. They seemed to be having a ball, and their joy in singing was infectious. If I’d been familiar with any of the songs, I’d have joined them.

An unusually quiescent Moonie studied the group of strangers and Jennifer. “Can I hug them?” he queried.

“Maybe next time,” I responded, trying not to quell his enthusiasm.