The earth laughs in flowers. [Ralph Waldo Emerson]
Today is May Day, the day that's been set aside for centuries to celebrate the glories of springtime. It's also International Workers' Day, set aside to honor the working class, but seeing's as how so many workers in the world aren't actually working right now, we're gonna ignore that in favor of singing the praises of springtime, okay?
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But I'm definitely in favor of celebrating the wonders of springtime.
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Only THIS year is... different.
THIS year we have an ominous not-so-lovely flower to contend with. COVID-19.
And to many people worldwide, the havoc caused by the pandemic makes today feel more like MAYDAY! than May Day... like our lives are out of control and that devious brat COVID has taken the helm.
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Since the entire world is being affected by this pandemic, perhaps a universal distress call like MAYDAY! is appropriate... but I think not.
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I believe hope springs eternal, and as terrible as things may seem today, this, too, shall pass, and we'll return to some semblance to normalcy.
We will get past it.
The world will survive.
And the world will rebuild, God willing, more caring, more appreciative, and much wiser than before.
Every sunset gives us one less day to live, but every sunrise gives us one day more to hope. [unknown]
So, let's hope for the best, shall we? And let's celebrate spring... or whatever season it may be in your corner of the world. Let's celebrate life.
Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.
Yes, this will be a different May Day to others. And you're right, more mayday! We used to dance around the maypole in England when I was at Junior School, and I always hated it....It's a public holiday here, but there will be no celebrations this year. Take care, the next one will surely be better. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteYes, quite different. But then, everything has been different for the past few months, hasn't it? I. Once we get past this, I think... I hope... more people will be appreciative of things we used to take for granted. Hugs back atcha.
DeleteI really, really hope that this pandemic is replaced by one of kindness - to the world as well as each other.
ReplyDeleteI hope that you and Smarticus have a wonderful weekend. Stay well, stay safe.
I hope so, too, Sue. We're seeing some lovely examples of kindness now... let's hope they outlive the pandemic.
DeleteThank you. You have a wonderful weekend, too, dear lady. You and your fella stay safe, too.
I needed a shot of optimism. I have been losing my faith in humanity bit by bit.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you and the hubs stay safe, stay home. As more people get out and about, there will probably be more infectious people. I keep telling my compromised people that they need to really up the quarantine. Send the young'ins out to fetch our food and battle the virus for us!
Oh no, no, no, dear lady. Don't ever lose your faith in humanity. Hang onto the good stuff. Feel that? It's a great big virtual hug... and a kiss to the top of your head. Trust that there's much more good in the world than evil.
DeleteWe're staying safe. You do the same. Other than mandatory trips to the grocery store and medical stuff, we stay put in the house. And yes, we always wear a mask when we're out and about. Take care, kiddo, and have a super weekend.
Question:
ReplyDeleteAre we required to wear masks when skipping around the May Pole? Should our skips be six feet apart?
Seems like Big Brother is taking the fun out of everything....
The rain has been so endlessly persistent here in the wilds of Tennessee that May Poles are being used as flotation devices.
Do I sound slightly pessimistic? I am.
But I hope your May Day is bright, sunny...and maskless.
Answer: You should definitely wear a mask when skipping around a May Pole. (That way, no one would recognize you!)
DeleteNot a whole lot of rain here, but it's been chillier than usual for this time of year. We haven't even turned out air condition on yet, which is unheard of here. In fact, the furnace is running as I type. (I'd better go catch it!)
Only slightly, cowboy. Oh, our May Day will be maskless, because the only place we'll be going is to our den to play pool. I hope you get lots of sunshine soon... both outside and inside.
As the earth has sprung, so should we. Time to venture out. Start rebuilding. Yes, we will get through it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, except for the "venturing out" part. My hubby and I will continue to hunker down until the number of cases starts to drop here.
DeleteGreetings. Spring hope is eternal. We expect a glorious weather weekend - I may swim on Sunday when it's over 90 outside. May Day means flowers - I used to gather dandelions to give to my mother (I was 5 or so). Stay safe, sit on a patio, and dream of freedoms. Good health, my friend!
ReplyDeleteGreetings, ol' pal! Our temperatures haven't approached the 90-degree mark yet, which is a bit unusual for us. In fact, our furnace is running right now, but it's supposed to be in the mid-80s this weekend. Still not swimming time here yet, so take a dip for me. (It feels the most heavenly after cutting the grass on a hot summer day, doesn't it? I used to fall in our pool when I finished, and the groans of ecstasy I made sounded downright pornographic. :))
DeleteGood health to you guys, too. Have a super weekend.
Hi, Susan!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I miss working...
Here Winter is getting near. I love the cold. It's sad that May Day has become Mayday...
Hi-ya, Ana!
DeleteI think a lot of people miss working, but even more of them miss getting a paycheck.
I don't like it to get reeeeeal cold, but I can tolerate it better now than I could years ago. (More protective fat these days. HA) I hope you have a glorious winter, dear lady. Take care.
There are a lot of people screaming mayday and not because they are sick. They are hurt though. Hopefully May is the beginning of the end of all this.
ReplyDeleteI hope the end of May is the end of all this, too, but I doubt if it will be. It won't truly end until an effective vaccine has been developed.
DeleteHi Susan - I never danced around a maypole ... if I had I suspect would still be laughing. I'm just grateful I can have a chance to catch up ... though am enjoying when I can get out and smell the air, and sometimes early roses! We now have cold April showers! Such is life ... topsy turvy ... take care and hope all is going well - with thoughts - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, Hilary. If you'd like to dance around a maypole, do it! (I'll keep watch, so no one sees you. Can't promise I won't laugh, though...)
DeleteIt's been cooler than usual here, too. Topsy turvy is the perfect description for the way things are right now. You take care, too. Make sure there aren't any bees on those roses before you take a sniff!
When I was a nursery school teacher, we celebrated May and spring with the Maypole dance. I have to admit, it was lovely watching the children dancing around with the pretty ribbons. Of course, we had practiced it for a week so that no four year old would be wrapped up in those ribbons which we knew that some little boys would try to do.
ReplyDeleteNice to see you back, Susan, with your upbeat posts. Reading them always starts my days off well.
Tell ya what, I never went to nursery school or kindergarten, but I betcha I could've managed to get tangled up in those ribbons as a 4-year old. I'm talented that way. :)
DeleteThank you. It's good to be back.
Hope springs eternal ! I'm with you lets believe we will come out of this better than we were before. I know I'm going to be more appreciative of the things I used to take for granted.
ReplyDeleteYes, we MUST hang onto hope. From what I know about you, I had a feeling you'd respond like this. :)
DeleteHope always there.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. Sometimes, it may be harder to find, but it's always there.
DeleteYep, I remember that 'dance' around my school's May pole - for gosh knows WHAT purpose. I do believe, in time we'll get past this season. Changed, certainly - but hopefully for the better. To entertain any other outcome is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're right to call it a "dance." Skipping around that pole didn't feel much like a real dance, did it? Now, if they would've let us add some high kicks and butt wiggles while clenching a rose in our teeth... :)
DeleteDefinitely changed. This is humanity's opportunity to shine.
I remember 50 years ago when my wedding was planned for May Day. We reconsidered and decided Our Day would be at Spring Break (March), when people could more easily attend --and it would be less connotative of the International Distress Signal of the time. How could we know Mayday would be coopted by a global pandemic? Love, rescue, celebration are facets of Human Nature, but in a broader sense Nature has got some explaining to do.
ReplyDeleteYeah, getting married on May Day might've sent the wrong message... HA
DeleteWe had to change our wedding date, too. We were supposed to get married on March 22, but at the last minute, Uncle Sam said, "Sorry, Charlie. No leave for you!" So I made a mad scramble and quickly moved everything back to May. (When he DID finally get a leave.)
Maybe Nature is trying to tell us something. Maybe she wants to remind us that WE are the visitors here, and we should be more mindful of HER needs.
Not sure on the kinder world. People are still wacko in many a place. Just had a mass shooting near here.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, of course. There are still a lot of wackos in the world. I heard about the mass shooting near you, but at least your PM responded to the issue with something other than "thoughts and prayers." And I still believe there are a lot more decent people than there are wackos.
DeleteMay Day is our wedding anniversary. What a different world today compared to our carefree younger days! Yes, we will get through it, and hopefully learn, and I think ways of working and living will turn out to have changed for ever. A lot of my colleagues are working from home and I think a lot would like to continue even when the health need has passed. It would be nice to picture a world getting by with so much less traffic on the roads.
ReplyDeleteOh, well, a belated happy anniversary to you and your bride! Did you celebrate with some of your famous curry?
DeleteI agree about the likelihood of more working from home in the future. Not sure if people with young children underfoot would agree, though...
MAYDAY indeed. I think for now, hope and common sense is all we've got, so let's hope that continues when things start getting better.
ReplyDeleteHope and common sense go a long way. I only wish more of our political leaders had some.
DeleteWho could have imagined how much the world could change in such a short time. Holding onto hope that things will get better here too. Wishing you a peaceful and beautiful spring.
ReplyDeleteThere have been some people in the medical field predicting a pandemic like this, but I think most of us thought it would "never" happen in our time. I'm wishing you and your family the same. Take care!
DeleteThis is truly scary times we are living in. Hope you and yours are keeping safe, Susan.
ReplyDeleteFor sure. Thanks. You take care, too, Nas.
DeleteWe maypole danced as children, May is a big celebration here in non pandemic years. Mr and I went walking in the woods and my pagan soul caused me to suddenly strip, whereupon my husband dropped his trousers and waggled. This was so funny I had to squat and pee in the bluebells. This is neither usual nor unusual for us: it was certainly very freeing and celebratory :-)
ReplyDeleteYou and your hubby sound like my kinda people. (Although I betcha he wouldn't be too happy you told me about his "waggling"... HA!) It does sound like a very freeing experience, and that's something we all could use about now. It made me smile to think about it...
DeleteThe world is closed sounds so tragic. How did we come to this? This has certainly hit us unexpectedly and we all are floundering.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound tragic, and seeing that marquee sign really brings it home.
DeleteWould you believe that, in the UK, May Day has been put back to this Friday! But there is a good reason; it's VE Day, Victory in Europe Day when the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany on May 8th 1945.
ReplyDeleteKilling two birds with one stone, eh? So to speak. The eighth is deserving of some serious flag-waving... from a distance. Take care.
DeleteU still standing and me still standing … smiles … U still smiling and me still smiling … dat means double smiles:) Much love from me to U 2 peeps, friend Sue. Love, cat. https://www.youtube.com/embed/eT5IGtWmQ-M?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0
ReplyDeleteYep, we're all still standing, so there's lots to be grateful for. A am ALSO grateful for that video. It's a hoot!!!
DeleteTake care, sweet cat.
One day this will all be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteI danced around a Maypole once - in third grade. I thought it was a peculiar thing to do. :)
Yes, one day.
DeleteGood to know I wasn't the only one who thought the whole dancing around the maypole stuff was kinda weird. :)
Yes, this all would pass.
ReplyDeleteYes... soon, please.
Delete