April brings about brighter times, the weather a bit warmer and skies a bit bluer. It's felt like a long dull winter and many are desperate to shrug off that insulating grey instead to seek some fresh input - anything, even the smallest detail. Some are already stubbornly in sandals despite the looming threat of long constant rain, but with the sharp frosts behind us the flowers are abundant and celebrated. Somehow I'd barely noticed the pioneering crocuses fight their way through hard ground this spring, but the year rolls on whether one's preoccupied or not. We're already in tulip+daffodil season now.
Vancouver had our annual Cherry Blossom Festival, and the different strains of cherry trees here stagger their peak blooming time to give us a whole month of flowering trees and parks. I attended a guided walk a few springs ago, weaving our way through tiny pockets of greenspaces and urban oasis I assumed were private courtyards. There is a certain peace of mind that comes with observing the cherry blossoms, even as they're drifting apart like delicate confetti. The 'sakura' epitomize the fleeting nature of youth and beauty. Around this time of year I like to reread Will Ferguson's "Hitching Rides With Buddha", about a Westerner's northward migration following the cherry blossoms in Japan. I have not been to Japan but found it an engaging read with good storytelling.
There seemed to be plenty of subtle hints of loss this month, yet somehow neither grim nor depressing, just... is. Rabbit hemorrhagic fever swept the area decimating the wild rabbit population as well as a rabbit shelter. A wave of flu ran through my friend's household that took an alarming toll on our elderly lady - currently she's fine, but brought to light that not everyone will recover always and that loved ones should have info and plans in place before the natural grief leaves us spinning our wheels, bringing in further difficult emotions. I caught a segment on CBC Radio One about death, coping, and expression in art. We discovered the WeCroak app of quotes and reminders to use our finite time wisely. Altogether has been a creeping reminder of mortality tempered with philosophy - not to fortify ourselves against it but to be aware and maybe even appreciate it, to bend with grace to that we cannot change. Everything and everyone I want to 'keep' can be lost. And yet I feel quite calm.
I attended the Surrey Vaisakhi again this year, joining the throngs of masses for my fill of pakora, chaat, halwa and endless chai. I was very satisfied with deliciousness! As well I amassed a full grocery bag of packaged goods, including my annual haul of Coke+Doritos which I ration carefully for the rest of the year. I was there with great company, Enough of grey or even muted smokey blue, I wore bright turquoise! With that came good memories of the one who gave it to me, a good time we had back then. While Vaisakhi is a foreign cultural observance, maybe I can have my own personal celebration.
From Surrey I returned to downtown Vancouver via a combination of buses and promptly lost a bag with half my edible goodies. Providence giveth and taketh away. While terribly annoying I can be grateful that a) I didn't pay for any of the yummy things, b) I didn't leave my purse of vital contents instead, and c) that as perishables are "up to the driver's discretion" to dispose of maybe it made a nice surprise for the bus driver, let the working man enjoy it since he likely didn't attend the event.
I had a great day with my belated tea+tarot reading. Tea was a fun lychee-flavored one, good for spring. As usual the cards gave me something to chew on; Chaos and Interference, but also a hermit in my recent past and the Ace of both Swords and Stones (Coins, Pentacles), both gifts from the universe! I think we have gifts from the universe often, and I acknowledge that I'm a lucky person, the key is to be aware of it.
