It was Orchid Day

Behind us
a wall of snow
immense,
like a huge wave
frozen in time.
Pinned to our coats
orchids from Jones Pharmacy,
the petals, edges brown, so fragile
in the cold.

It was Orchid Day.
High above us the muffled noise of traffic,
In front of us birds carried cold bits of seed
across the ice.

Your thick black hair had only one
streak of silver then,
And your ungloved hand
balanced with elegance
only one cane.

But it was Orchid Day.
Your eyes dark like chocolate
mine round and wide,
Even our jeans looked new
unwrinkled and clean.

 

It’s Easter. For the first time ever, I did nothing. No little gifties for my family. No church. Not even meditation with my Tibetan Buddhist buddies (highly recommended if you have poor executive function skills). Outside my neighbors are having their annual gigantic Easter egg hunt. Kids and grown kids both run amok in their search for eggy prizes. It takes me back to my childhood Easter celebrations which, in good Unitarian style, took place in the middle of a Spring explosion at Cecil and Dorothy Miller’s big farmhouse. After the mandatory Easter egg hunt, a beautiful breakfast was served with ‘ Creamed Eggs over Rice’, Banana/Strawberry/Mandarin Orange fruit salad and a sweet punch topped with violet blossoms. .
No matter what one’s faith, it’s a day to celebrate renewal.

For the beauty of the Earth,
For the splendor of the sky,
For the love which from our birth,
Over and around us lie,
Lord of all to these we pray,
This our hymn of grateful praise.
(Shaker hymn)

are such fragile things. The infinite number of blank, white pages here is daunting. However, I’m hopeful that with a bit of tech support from my trusty husband this blog will become my “go to” spot for recording progressions – from discoveries in my fiber art to epic family tales and pesky ideas that won’t leave me alone during the darkest hours of the night.

Below is a photo Annalee took a few years ago when she was about 13 or 14. I often wonder what on earth moved her to create this lovely sculpture and photo.