Spring at Last

Well the other day was the first day of spring and it looks like we are starting to enjoy milder weather at long last, at least for the moment. Many things are in bloom now which is a delight for the eyes. I was thinking how last spring I missed this display of color, I was living in Baja getting ready for our return.  Last spring dad went in the hospital and Patches was a happy seemly healthy doggie. I would have never imaged that Patches had only a few more months to live. I would like to say dad on the other hand is doing great, but he is not, his aging heart is not giving him the quality of life he once had. For now he is hanging in there.  This month my church has a Sunday sermon theme of grief.  A subject we don’t often talk about because it is hard to talk about. Yet is part living and we all handle it in different ways. It is often a subject in movies, though and last night I watched a very different take on the subject in the movie "Cloud Bust” staring Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker as an aging lesbian couple facing many issues of aging with grace, humor and determination.

On a happier note, with spring comes renewal, which has special meaning to me this year. Every morning I wake up feeling joy filled with my new heart valve working as it should now allowing me new freedoms. So, I have a “renewed” live….kind of cool. Then there is the new doggie, Daisy, who is very sweet, she has a tail wag for everyone and is such a joy to have around. She is like the laughing Buddha, (the supreme symbol of joy and well being and vision of happiness). Daisy is a wonderful reminder for me to be in the moment with light heartiness.  Spring is also the time for planting. I think about making a veggie garden every year and have tried it a couple of times, but I don’t seem to have a green thumb…only green with dabs of paint on it. In the past I’ve had life partners who were great at gardening. I did really enjoy the fruits of their labors. I guess I will enjoy the produce from the farmers market again this year. Then there are the seeds we plant in our efforts to see justice or make changes in our lives. These are the kind of seeds I’m far more comfortable in planting.

This past week I participated in a political action/demonstration at the Georgia State Capital. When I came home my dad asks me if we did any good. I said yes, we may not have changed lawmakers’ minds, but at least they have to know that there are citizens with another point of view. This is supposed to be a government by the people and for the people, not everyone has the same thoughts. If we don’t speak up then it is assumed that we are all in agreement. So, what seeds are you planting this spring?

Spring Color

UU's at the State Capital