The Sweets

 May Day.  Husbandman and I joined the Morris Dancers downtown this morning to celebrate the Sweets of May.   We took an online class in Morris dancing during the pandemic, but haven't danced with others in real time until today.  So fun to finally join in, circling the Maypole with our bells, sticks and handkerchiefs.  We were nervous at first, worrying that we might not be good enough, but we did alright. Now that we've met the other Morris Dancers, we plan to join their weekly meetup on Wednesday nights. 

Join us if you feel like it.

The Arbor Day

Happy Earth Day, Friends.  And Happy Arbor Day this coming Friday.  

The Department of Natural Resources gives tree seedlings to 3rd graders every year around this time.  They gave us pecan seedlings this year.  There were a few extra seedlings, so I asked if anyone wanted another. They were snatched up quickly. 

I've taken tree seedlings home in past years and never planted them, so I didn't take one. This has actually happened to me more than once and it's a waste of a good seedling.  I told the 3rdLanders that they didn't have to take one if they didn't think their family would plant it.  One 3rdLander declined the pecan tree.  

2 minutes before the end of the day, this character starts crying like a banshee.  "I feel guilty that I didn't take a tree," he wails through his tears.  I couldn't do much for him at that point, but I understood his sentiments exactly.  I too felt some guilt about not taking a tree.  What kind of role model am I?  What kind of steward of the earth? 

I owe you one pecan tree, Earth.  I can buy one at the Arbor Day Foundation for 20 bucks.  Guaranteed to grow. (If planted and watered as needed). 

I could also make a donation to the ADF and call it even steven.

The Book I Read

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata.  

Plot Summary:  Keiko Furukura enjoys working in a convenience store, but people pressure her to blend in with others, so she tries to figure out what she wants to do with her life. 

After reading this "gem of a book," (Ruth Ozeki), I spent my time googling reviews and information about the author. Sayaka Murata has written 9 or 10 books.  Maybe more.  I can't remember. She used to work in a convenience store, so she knows her stuff.  

Don't want to be a downer, but when I read about how she commits to getting her writing done, I start to question if I can really consider myself any kind of writer.  I barely write one blog entry a week. Reading about the ways she takes charge of her writing goals creates a rising sense of hopelessness and self doubt. Still, while I feel judged by Sayaka Murata, I also greatly admire her.

In my research on the themes of the book, I learned about Japan's "aversion to sex" which some have coined "celibacy syndrome." There are four or five reasons for this asexual trend in Japan, but I won't go into them right now.  

I'm also curious about the book's exploration of what it means to pull off "being a 'person,'"  how being human involves absorbing the behaviors and mannerisms of those around us.  From page 26: "Infecting each other ...is how we maintain ourselves as human is what I think."

True or untrue?  We may never know.  We will discuss this question at our upcoming book club meeting, which will be at my house. I'll be ordering sushi. The long and the short of it is this.  Convenience Store Woman is "weird and funny" (Rooney).  You should read it if you feel like it.  

 

The Activities

This yesterday Saturday, I headed in to the compound to get stuff ready for the upcoming week. I  like to go in on Saturdays because a.) I'm the only person there and b.) when I'm done I can enjoy my weekend without thinking about school stuff.  

I started getting a case of stress-sadness in my fifth or sixth hour in empty 3rdLand. Once I get going on school, it's hard to stop.  I never feel like I've finished all I want to do because I never have finished all I want to do. Then I start whining about being at work on the weekend and I plaintively ask myself that age old classic, "Heffernan, why the heck can't you figure out how to do this job so that it doesn't take up so much of your gosh darn life?  I've asked this age old question every day since 1984 when I got my first teaching job in Stockbridge, Georgia.  Let's face it, if I haven't figured it out by now, it's probably not going to happen. But here's the good news:  I plan to teach for 3 more years.  After that, if I'm still alive, weekends will be mine.  Oh yes, they will be mine. In short, there's light at the end of the tunnel.

I went home grouchy in the late afternoon, but Husbandman made me a cup of tea and I read my book on the couch.  Then we went to Comedy Attic and listened to Ashton Womack, a funny man. Today we furthered our seizing of the weekend by walking to the Bart Kaufman baseball stadium on campus. We watched the Hoosiers beat the Iowa Hawkeyes.  After the game, we drove to the movie theater to watch AIR, featuring my two boyfriends, Matt and Ben.  Last, we were home in time to order a pizza and watch another episode of Friday Night Lights.  

In this way I achieved life/work balance and enjoyed a top notch weekend. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy. I guess I really can have it all. 

 

The Wheelhouse

Photo Credit:  Cynthia

Cynthia's texting of this photo brought on a classic case of “flooding memories” because this plant and I go way back. 

Remember #30 Something’s beautiful wedding to Mr. HL last summer?  I did little to help with this once in a lifetime (we hope) affair, but in my defense, #30 Something had everything pretty much squared away. The one thing the event lacked was centerpieces for the picnic tables. Decorative arts aren’t exactly in my wheelhouse, but I jumped at the chance to prove my worth as mother of the bride.

I headed to the nursery, along with Husbandman and #1 Son. I wanted to take my time, but two other people who shall remain nameless kept hurrying my decision making process. We finally decided to divide the task, each of us going our own way. As is his wont, #1 Son added some challenge to the enterprise, suggesting that we complete the task within four minutes time. Timer on, we hustled off to procure plants for the Wedding of the Summer.

Four minutes later, plants in tow, we headed to the craft store for some burlap and colorful twine, hoping to replicate an image from an internet search.

Come to find out, even simple centerpieces require skills I apparently do not possess. Hours of trial and error produced centerpieces sure to bring down shame on the family. In short, I was concerned.

Ms. Shea came to my rescue and produced a prototype. When paired with a pinwheel and a plastic animal or two, The Shea centerpieces would surely pass muster.

Nearly a year later, this photograph provides evidence that at least one centerpiece plant continues to grow and thrive. I have it on good authority that the marriage is doing great as well.

In terms of Mother of the Bride responsibilities, we did alright.