MAY DAY

May baskets, made filled and left quietly at someone's doorstep. Ring the doorbell and runaway! Such dear memories from our youth! Violets and dandelions picked in the yard and road ditches, but presented with love were as beautiful as the most perfect rose. It truly is the thought which counts.

Now we have the local florist deliver fresh flowers to friends. We love fresh flowers and they often grace our living space. We send them to friends and family often, Holidays, birthdays, or just because, and always on May Day. A way to say "We are thinking of you" or "Thanks". Men, once they get over the shock of someone actually sending THEM flowers, enjoy a bouquet. So we make a list and say a prayer as we add names.

Friends are the flowers in our lives.

FLEXABILITY

Two day with temperatures in the 70s, then this morning, we awake to a winter wonderland! Several inches of snow and it is still falling. Our World is fresh and white. Luckily our trees have not fully leafed out, so there should be little damage. But the boots, which had been put away, must be retrieved and worn today. And a coat and mittens will be needed as well. The moisture will allow the grass to be very green, once it is again visible. Weather and life, they change from day to day, moment to moment. We need to take it as it comes and refrain from complaining. There is always a silver lining to every cloud if we are patient and wait for it to be discovered. Illness and accidents have brought pain and heartache to several in our community this week, reminding us to reserve our complaints for the truly important woes. So we view the snow as needed moisture, even though it needs to be shoveled or swept. And we say a prayer in gratitude that we are able to do so, even as we pray for those who are incapacitated.

QUIET

We have become a noisy society. Why? Are we really listening or is it just a habit? Noise is stressful and distracting. Seems there is always something noisy in the background of our lives. Distractions result in errors. Noise is just another type of rudeness! The TV or radio, add to the usual outside noise of traffic and construction. My husband is losing his hearing, and background noise just adds to his difficulties. We choose restaurants that are quieter and then choose a table away from the speakers, if possible. We ask for a table in a corner and he sits with his back to the wall. We don't make return visits to homes, where the TV is always on, it is difficult to carry on a conversation with the background noise. Quiet times let our minds wander and become refreshed. We become aware of the peaceful noise of nature, Spring has brought a new group of birds to the feeders in our yard, and their songs are joyful. We purchased a fountain for our patio last summer, and are anxious for summer, so it can add its soothing water fall noise to our environment. Quiet lets us mull over things in our mind and hopefully find solutions. Quiet lets us think and remember and say a prayer.

SPRING CLEANING

Sunshine and soft breezes-time to open the windows and let in some fresh air. Walk thru the house and make note of what needs to be polished and set to rights. Isn't that an old fashioned phrase "set to rights"? Sparkling windows and glowing wood surfaces will set the stage for a new season. We will put away the winter decor and replace it with clear glass and fresh flowers. Time to do some entertaining, now that storms and bad roads will not be in the equation. A simple meal shared is more tasty than a feast eaten alone. We use the best dishes and cloth napkins, a pretty setting makes any meal taste better.

Many objects have memories attached. So cleaning and polishing isn't a chore but a stroll down Memory Lane. We pray as we polish. And smile to our self as we pass an object and think of its former owner.

Time to sweep the cobwebs and grime from our hearts and minds as well. The entire World will seem brighter if we view it with a fresh perspective. Time to forget and get on with life. Yesterday is gone and cannot be fixed. Today is here ahead of us , to enjoy and try to use wisely, to do our jobs to the best of our ability, to help our friends and family and the strangers we will meet as we go about our day. Some days we perform better than other days, but we try not to become discouraged by our failures.

Tomorrow will be better!

Hope springs eternal-

We shouldn't settle for less!

OLDER

Another birthday! My Mother often said "Never regret growing older, many are denied the privilege." I am now several years older than she was at her death. So I try to accept the wrinkles and the gray hair and am grateful for my good health. Dave, a dear friend of my husband's, always told us "Wrinkles, gray hair or NO hair--they don't hurt! Only worry about things that cause pain." Each day is a gift, to enjoy and share. They do seem to pass quicker than they use to. So we need to write a note to a dear friend or relative, enjoy a cup of tea, read a good book, say a prayer, or just sit in the sun and do nothing. We should not waste a moment. Resentment, anger, & all negative thoughts are a waste of precious time. Try to forgive, insist on forgetting. Hopefully we learn from the past, to ensure a better, more pleasant future. Not "some" day, but today! Happy Birthday to me! Happy Year to come!

SPRING

Sunshine and mild breezes, then snow and chill. Wyoming seasons seem to mix, one with another, to keep us guessing. What should we wear, always a sweater or jacket close at hand. Even the hottest day may be followed by a chilly evening, once the sun sets. We are tempted to dig in the dirt and get busy and plant something, for Spring is surely just around the corner. Dust billows from our streets, no longer slick with winter's ice & snow. A nice rain would wash away the grime of the season past. Each season is unique, with its own good and bad aspects. So we try not to grumble, but persevere, knowing this to shall pass. No boredom, wait 24 hours and it will all change! Listen to the birds sing. Watch for the jonquils and tulips, they are peeking thru. Soon the lilacs will bloom and a walk thru our town will full of fragrance! Take delight in your surroundings, take time to smell the roses (or the lilacs). Spring, a new beginning, once again.