First Blossom

Posted on March 23, 2011 by literarylee

My commute is other people’s vacation…

I board a bus within sight of the Potomac River.  It drives through historic Old Town Alexandria with its colonial houses, quaint byways, and even the church first Washington, then Robert E. Lee attended.  The scenic George Washington Parkway winds along the river, many days a-sparkle with the morning sun.  Soon, we veer right onto the bridge over the river.  From here I look north up the river at the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Memorial, and in the distance, the oddly juxtaposed Gothic National Cathedral.  At the end of the bridge, I see Jefferson’s statue’s silhouette in its memorial.  I saw all this today as usual.

…but today it was even more.  Continue reading →

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What I learned about a Crocus

Posted on March 22, 2011 by literarylee

A crocus is a triangle, a tripartite creation.  Until now, I had no idea.  I normally look at crocuses from the side and see pretty purple, yellow or white flowers only a few inches from the ground, with petals expanding outward, vases in miniature.  And note the plural.  Crocuses are almost always plural, grouped in gardens or front yards, a low-lying little crowd of pretty.

The traditional view

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Blossoms Galore

Posted on March 21, 2011 by literarylee

March 21, 2011 (Vernal Equinox – First Day of Spring)

I love blossoms.  Flowers of all sorts thrill and amaze me, but blossoms, especially spring’s first ones, almost defy words to do them justice.

Blossom Vanguard

Blossoms fascinate.  I will never forget when, at 10 or 11, I saw a daffodil that had pushed its way through newly laid asphalt, steam-rolled hard and flat.  I couldn’t believe it.  For many years I kept a small hunk of the pavement the flower had pushed aside, possibly as a token of life’s ultimate victory.  I now see every spring-blooming bulb repeating this unlikely feat of light-touched strength.  Every crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip performs the same mighty work: a flower emerging from a cold, bare, hard place.

Continue reading →

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The Blossoms Cry Out

Posted on March 21, 2011 by literarylee

Look upon me
ye world weary,
tired of winter’s stark, spare beauty.

Breathe deeply of us
all cynics
who despair of ever breathing a fragrance worth inhaling.

Marvel,
oh people,
before our vast tribe’s numberless multitude.

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From the Bride’s Father’s Notebook – Day 6

Posted on March 20, 2011 by literarylee

Friday, December 25 (Christmas)

We spent the day with one of our middle sons, his girlfriend and the girlfriend’s family, a couple hours drive from home.  We enjoyed breakfast with Katie and David at the hotel on our way out.  The moment, as we ate and talked, was fun, cheerful, and festive.  My future son-in-law helped me make a waffle at the breakfast bar.  He was very solicitous and kind, anxious to see me cared for.  Katie has said he has a heart for old people.  I think he has a heart for anyone in need.  Yet another good sign, one of a growing number of confirmations that yes, this marriage will be a good thing for my daughter.  I enjoyed seeing him in action today with me as the object of his concern.  A Christmas gift for the father of the bride.

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Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

Posted on March 20, 2011 by literarylee

(This is a prayer Orthodox Christians pray during Lent.

Oh Lord and Master of my life, do not give to me the spirit of laziness, faintheartedness, lust for power and idle talk,

But give to me your servant, the spirit of purity, humility, patience, and love,

Oh Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother, for blessed are you unto ages of ages. Amen

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Bombay Letters 4 – April, 1998

Posted on March 19, 2011 by literarylee

Date: April 1, 1998

Subject: Servant News and New Apartment

Dear Family and friends,

Let me try to bring everyone up to date.  I am writing this on April Fools Day (really!) and have a little extra time at the end of my day due to a surprisingly light workload.  On that topic, briefly, I am really enjoying my work.  One of the high points has been getting to know the local employees.  They are, first of all, very, very good at what they do.  Second, they are fun and interesting people, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis, and even a few Christians.  I know it will be hard to leave such great people with whom I will have worked so closely, when the time comes in two years.

About our servant situation: many of you received a typewritten letter composed by Anita with impressions of Bombay and the account of our servant’s death.  If you did not get one, write my father and I’m sure he’ll send you a copy.  As she described in her letter, our servant, a very nice 55 year old Muslim man, died in his sleep a few weeks ago.  It was very traumatic for us.  I was a part of the group who first found his body, and who dealt with the initial issues like what to do with the remains, contacting the next of kin, and dealing with his possessions.  Yesterday I had the emotionally wrenching experience of meeting his widow and two of his sons to deal with financial issues.  Continue reading →

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Garden: A Love Story – Introduction

Posted on March 18, 2011 by literarylee

A Surgery Planted the Seed

Thank goodness for my mother’s back surgery.  No, not really.  I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.  Nevertheless, it was her operation that first opened the door to me, at age 15, to the world of the garden.  Though mom’s surgery was successful she had to take it easy for awhile.  During her six month recuperation I took on some of her tasks.  I was glad to.  I didn’t mind.  I learned how to cook supper for a family.  I learned how to make biscuits.  And I was introduced to something that became a life love: the garden.

I remember those heady first days and weeks.  What started out being a small plot with a few tomato plants and some carrots, ended up being what felt to me like a vast garden kingdom, my own horticultural wonderland that included cantaloupes (grown on a trellis and supported by old nylons tied like slings), castor beans, and even peanuts as well as the usual things like peppers, beans, onions, lettuce, flowers, and much more.  It was the beginning of my habit of spading under lawn (who needs all that grass?) to make more room for garden space.  I spent hours poring over garden books, soaking in garden knowledge and lore and, of course, in the garden itself.

Gardening helped me get through my teen years, a time of self-questioning and introspection which, at age 51, I’m pleased to say I’m finally through.

Continue reading →

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Poem Memorization Tip Number Nine Revisited (put the children to bed before reading this)

Posted on March 17, 2011 by literarylee

Still working on the poem, To A Friend Whose Work Has Come to Nothing by William Butler Yeats.  Here’s what I’ve memorized so far:

Now all the truth is out,
Be secret and take defeat
From any brazen throat,
For how can you compete,
Being honor bred, with one
Who were it proved he lies
Were neither shamed in his own
Nor in his neighbors’ eyes?
Bred to a harder thing
Than triumph, turn away…

Here’s another example of how looking for patterns can make memorizing a poem easier.  This time the pattern is a lovely line of alliteration.  The last word of the line that starts with the word bred is thing.  The first word of the next line is than.  Two words next to each other beginning with t (th really) provide a nice way to tie the next line with the one before it.  Then, how handy that the next two words also begin with t.  Patterns like that make a line very easy to remember.

Continue reading →

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To A Friend Whose Work Has Come to Nothing

Posted on March 17, 2011 by literarylee

William Butler Yeats

Now all the truth is out,
Be secret and take defeat
From any brazen throat,
For how can you compete,
Being honor bred, with one
Who were it proved he lies
Were neither shamed in his own
Nor in his neighbors’ eyes?
Bred to a harder thing
Than triumph, turn away…
And like a laughing string
Whereon mad fingers play
Amid a place of stone,
Be secret and exult,
Because of all things known
That is most difficult.

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