33. In the Merrie, Merrie Month of May

33. In the Merrie, Merrie Month of May

33. In the Merrie, Merrie Month of May
Siobhan Medbhb O'Roarke 00:07 Mon May 1/23 66 lines

Mijja has arrived. So the middle third of the year has come
upon us now.

Spring and then Summer. The middle of the year. No thinking
about the last nor the next

The leaves are already growing on the trees around here and
more flowers will be coming up.

Time to get the plans for the planting and garden in full
swing. The beginning of May can still be cold, but one needs
to get the tools and supplies that are needed.

I just made a trip to the local garden center and picked up
seedlings and other supplies. The seedlings will stay in the
warmth of the indoors, by the window, since its still too
cold outside. I'm leeary of planting anything until just
before Memorial Day as May can be cold and it looks like we
are going to be a bit below average in the first part of the
month.

Holidays: We have May Day (May 1st), which is NOT just a
commie day - its a cross quarter day - half way between the
quarter days of the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice -
the longest day of the year.

Finally - Memorial Day. Many people don't know the
difference between Memorial Day and Veteran's Day (Nov 11).
One is for celebrating the living (Veteran's Day) and one to
celebrate those who died fighting for the nation (Memorial
Day).

Some May Birthdays:

May 1. Jamie Dornan. Wes Anderson. ...
May 2. Dwayne Johnson. Christine Baranski. ...
May 3. Christina Hendricks. Bobby Cannavale. ...
May 4. Will Arnett. Richard Jenkins. ...
May 5. Henry Cavill. Lance Henriksen. ...
May 6. George Clooney. Tom Bergeron. ...
May 7. Breckin Meyer. Alexander Ludwig. ...
May 8. Stephen Amell. Michel Gondry.

Interesting Facts about May

1. It is the third and last month of the season of spring.
2. The birthstone of May, the emerald, symbolizes success and love.
3. May in the Northern Hemisphere is similar to November
in the Southern Hemisphere.
4. May was once considered a bad luck month to get married.
There is a poem that says "Marry in May and you'll rue the day".
5. In Old English May is called the "month of three milkings"
referring to a time when the cows could be milked three times a day.
6. The Indianapolis 500 car race is held each year during this
month. The Kentucky Derby, the world's most famous horse race,
is also held on the second Saturday of this month.
7. The month of May is devoted to the Virgin Mary in the
Catholic Church.
8. The United Kingdom celebrates May as the National Smile Month.
9. The last week of May is Library and Information Week.

So, what are you going to do that is special this month?
Anyone taking a trip, going to see a baseball game, having a
bbq on Memorial Day weekend with family and friends?

What are you planting in your garden this month?

33/1. John Palmer 00:13 Mon May 1/23 63 lines

Jifma comes to say goodbye.

"I leave you now, as I must go as I do each year and slumber until
it is my time once again to come and lead you into a new year. I
showed you the new, got you to leave the past and move into the
new. Together, we became unafraid of the new and it became our
friend."

She unclasps her hand from mine and stepped back. The clock
approaches midnight. She speaks one last time.

"I will leave you to my companion, he will show you how to live in
the here and now, not to look at the past, but to look at the now
and be present in it. He is called Mijja. You remember him from
past years, no?".

I shake my head in affirmation. "Yes I do, dear Jifma".

It is almost time, two minutes or so, Jifma, she starts to glow,
her face radiant and bright, like the center of a star. She
crosses her hands over her chest and raises her head back, eyes
closed. Soon the glow becomes so bright that her entire person is
covered in it and she becomes a mass of light.

30 seconds, the light becomes mottled and blurry.

Midnight.

In a blinding flash, she vanishes. For a moment, there is darkness
and silence.

Then, suddenly out of the darkness appears a young man, looking
almost like Peter Pan - dressed in green, somewhat lighter in hue
than Lincoln green.

He puts his hand on my shoulder and speaks.

"Hello friend, I have returned. I am Mijja. I am the core, the
center. With me you will not look to the past, nor to the future,
but only at the now. I will always remind you: "2 - 0 - 2 - 3",
nothing before, nothing after. The after will come in its time,
when I hand you off to the final one, but for now, never speak of
later, or of the then, but only of now. We will travel the four
segments of my timespace and be present in each moment. Are you
ready to begin the journey for this year?"

I respond.

"I welcome the journey, old friend Mijja, for you and I have
traversed many middle spaces - 60 to be exact. I look forward to
this one and many more".

He smiles.

"OK, then. Lets get started. The sun will rise soon and the leaves
are almost out. I think I hear the birds awakening from their
sleep".

We move forward into the center, into the core. I am ready. Jifma
has shown me the new and now its the present. Mijja and I will go
forth from here. The cycle continues, and will into eternity.

33/2. Tom Stevenson 03:51 Mon May 1/23 6 lines

Maybe if its warm enough on Memorial day, Mariane and
I may go sailing on Lk St Clair with our buddy who
owns a small sailboat.

That isn't a sport for people of leisure - you have
to work to steer that boat.

33/3. Tomas Nemecke-Baxter 05:15 Mon May 1/23 6 lines

Happy May!!!!!

In the Lehigh Valley, its been not too cold but
we are drenched with so much rain every day.

We have leafs out for maybe 2 or 3 weeks by now.

33/4. Siobhan Medbhb O'Roarke 22:56 Wed May 3/23 30 lines

L Bealtaine - Irish customs and folklore around May Day

Bealtaine (May 1st) is the Cross Quarter Day, half way between
the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. This day has been
important in Irish calendars for hundreds of years and possibly
connects back thousands of years to the people who created the
monuments like New Grange in the Boyne Valley.

Growing up, ( 90's, 00's in Meath) Bealtaine was just the May
Bank holiday. A day off school and usually a sunny one at that.
While it wasn't more than a public holiday to me it was always
one of the best! The May bank holiday is often the first real
feeling that summer is in the air!

I've been researching so much about the Celtic festivals of
Imbolc (Brigid's day), Bealtaine, Lughnashadh, and Samhain. This
year my mind is ignited by Bealtaine! Its rich history and
traditional practices are resurfacing (thank you internet!!) and
it's such a lovely way to connect with nature this time of year.

Bealtaine is a time for celebrating the coming of summer,
honoring the 'good people' (fairy folk) and warding away ill
fortune and bad spirits.

My favourite resource when looking for information on Irish
folklore is D chas.ie. There are 109 entries on May Day folklore!
Here are a few things mentioned about May Day traditions from the
scanned school copybooks, (some from the 1930's). I've linked
everything below if you want to take a deeper look.

KEYWORDS:
MAY 2023 MONTHLY

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