May Day baskets

mom always encouraged giving.
time, money, talents, etc.

May Day baskets ranked right up there.
she and her siblings gave them,
so we did too.
i loved it.

as a child each year i would get a few stems of the lilacs
and make a paper cone thing.
then once they were put together i would sneak 
up on my grandma's porch, 
try to hang this droopy mess on her door knob,
ring the bell and
RUN!!!

i'm sure she knew it was me.

you see it was only her home
and ours on the farm. 
the closest neighbors were about 1 mile away.

when our kids were little we did may baskets.
usually it was a  potted geranium we had put in
a recycled tin can. 
tied a ribbon on, and 
they took it to a school teacher.

a few years ago mom's bible study ladies
made may baskets with their old silk flowers
and assorted ribbon and trim scraps.
i can still hear the excitement in her voice.
not only after they did it,
but in the planning of it.
seems the givers and receivers were blessed.

so...
this year bird and i decided to do
may baskets on the tables at the care home
where mom lived for 6 weeks.

i got some economical plastic cups,
made arrangements with the local florist
for assorted daisies and use space in her shop.
all was going according to plan...
except.
bird unexpectedly needed to go stay with
her charming grandson, 5 hours away.

so...that left it all up to me.
it got accomplished and just as i 
was ready to load up my car and deliver them,
my aunt showed up to help with that part.

there is nothing fancy about them.
just a bit of color with a tulip shaped note
"Happy May Day!"
in memory of Maureen B.

the nurses, staff and residents were
very appreciative.
one of the sweet nurses was teary eyed 
just thinking of mom.
and it was fun to sneak into a room and leave
the flowers in the room of one of mom's friends.
when she woke up i know she was surprised.
another of my aunts and a cousin were delighted too.

such a small thing to do.
and a sweet way to remember our flower loving mom.
this would have her stamp of approval. 
 
i'm sooo glad i did this.
also sorry bird missed out on the joy of it.
next time sister-bird. 

we weren't the only ones giving that day.
when i was ready to pay my floral bill
the owner blessed me by saying
"no charge. just pay it forward".

there is joy in giving.