Currently – June

I am joining Anne In Residence‘s “Currently” for the very first time. Each month Anne invites us to ponder our responses to an always-changing list of verbs. This month, we are writing about what we are currently feeling, wearing, buying, craving, and discussing.

I am writing about what I am craving first because it’s the easiest- ice cream.

I am on a no-added-sugar diet to lower my cholesterol. So far, it has worked. My overall cholesterol decreased by 50 points in the first year I followed the diet and I lost eight pounds. I still crave sugary treats once in a while and every so often, I cheat on my diet.

There is an ice cream parlor in our town that sells home-made ice cream. Rum raisin is my favorite. Last week, hubby and I checked the website to see the list of flavors offered. When rum raisin was on the list, it was almost as if we didn’t have any choice. We had to go.

We each got small cones. Mine was rum raisin/German chocolate. It was worth every bit of the guilt.

This month, I was buying flowers. Annuals, to be specific. Twice.

When I was growing up, the date given in the Farmer’s Almanac to plant annuals where I live (Southeastern Pennsylvania) was Mother’s Day. My mother adhered to that rule religiously, refusing to put flowers in the ground before the second Sunday in May.

Gradually, maybe due to climate change, that date has evolved. Now, the standard date for safely planting annuals is given as May 1.

During the last week in April, I looked at the 10-day weather forecast. No nights were even close to freezing well into May, so I went ahead and planted most of my annuals.

On May 9 (one day before Mother’s Day), we awoke to a dusting of snow on the ground. My calibrachoas, marigolds, and basil plants were goners. Only my petunias survived.

Once again, I should have listened to my mother’s words of wisdom. When will I learn?

Finally, finally, finally, it is warm enough to be wearing summer clothes.

I am not sad at all to put my dowdy winter clothes in storage for six months and wear my brightly-colored summer wardrobe.

Finally, I have to admit to feeling a little bit lost lately. When my husband and I discuss events happening in our country, I sometimes shake my head in disbelief.

Over 100,000 people have died as a result of the Coronavirus.

People are protesting the speed at which states are reopening.

People are protesting the death of George Floyd while in police custody.

Sadness, fear, hate, mistrust, anger, division, and hurt seem to be everywhere.

I don’t know about you, but I need some good news, some love.

It’s there. Sometimes it gets buried but you can find people doing and saying extraordinary things if you look hard enough.

Here is a touching article, written by a white mother about racism, telling us “Let’s just start here. Racism is unacceptable. Unacceptable.”

She goes on to say “friends of color, we love you. We love your history and diversity. We love your beauty and your culture and your heritage. We are so thankful God did not make us all the same. You are not alone. You do not need to be silent. You do not need to be afraid.”

When we allow racism or any other form of hate to control our actions, our words, and our lives, we cannot call ourselves “good people“.

“If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20

 

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