may baskets

May 1st. May day. As a child I spend days before the event making construction paper baskets to old flowers, cookies and such and praying for nice weather. That day I would jump form the warm covers and often in pajamas run to place the baskets on neighborhood porches, ring the bell, and hide. The point was to give cheer without hope of reward though there were always some baskets at our door. We did something at school but no indelible memories exist of those events. It Was the thrill of giving with the sense of getting away with it unnoticed. Anyone else remember those paste and crayon covered creations?

The French give bon chance or good luck on this day by presenting people with muget de bois or lily of the valley sprigs. A low cost cheer up that makes the day a special one. I often used these blooms in my baskets and at times would pick them early and place them in food coloring. The color would stripe the white blooms,and so they were a bit more splashy if less natural.

Does anyone remember the military parades in Moscow on May Day with huge displays of tanks? And the corresponding parades in our cities to counter their big day? I think they called it law day? This was in the same era that we went under our desk curled into balls during atomic bomb drills. Even then I wondered about the effectiveness of this action?

Still the idea of giving without reward is the one that it perks up my thoughts. How often do we do something without thought of benefit to ourselves? I truly hope it is often. Selfless reaction to a crisis such as marathons are inspirations for all of us but there are professions that include this giving on a daily basis. Teachers, nurses. policemen, and firemen give of themselves daily as do parents. think of a time when one of these made your life better without thinking of what they could get from it.

The giving does not have to be much-- a pat on the back, a willing ear, a smile as you pass someone. Such small actions can carry a big impact on someone else and often we do not even realize that we have done it. One of the students in my school always has a smile and a high five and sometimes whispers woody's as he passes me. While the woody's is a private joke, even without that his smile makes my day happier. I hope my return of the greeting also lifts him up.

There is a Bible verse that says judge not lest you be judged and I guess that is what I am thinking of here. People are so quick to judge ;often without knowledge of the facts. We need less of that and more of the small kindnesses to others regardless of their gender, color, religion and sexual orientation. We are all humans with ups and downs. We all need acceptance and kindness; we all need to pass the small things on and brighten someone's spirit and day.

So Avez le bon chance-- have a good day.