We'd make cute little paper cones out of paper plates and doilies, with a handle by which to hang it on a door knob, and then we'd fill it with a bouquet of flowers and march off to our neighbor's homes to spread some cheer. Sometimes we'd even talk my mom into driving us all the way to Grandma's house to make sure she got one, too.
One neighbor lady Mrs. Pike absolutely loved this tradition, and that we chose to include her. She didn't have any grandchildren of her own, and when we 'adopted' her, she didn't protest.
While we didn't go the whole nine yards with a May pole, we four kids formed our own parade over to her house where we would knock on her door and then run to hide while she found the 'surprise' left for her.
The first couple of years, that worked just fine, but one year she caught us in the act, and made us all go back up her driveway until we were out of sight and then 're-enact' it so she could get a picture.
We, who probably had mud on our shoes from taking the 'shortcut' through the culvert ditch between our properties, on our covert but too-giggly-to-be-secretive mission, had really brightened her day.
Mrs. Pike has been gone a long time now, but I still look back on those memories with great fondness.
While I've always loved that tradition, somewhere during my college and early married years I kind of got away from it.
Then, when we moved here 12 years ago, we met a wonderful old couple in our church. Glen & Betty.
They had a large family and plenty of kids, grands, great-grands and now even a great-great grand of their own, but still had us over from time to time and were the sort of folks to 'adopt' all the additional grandchildren they could. Of course we were happy to oblige.
Glenn knew this May Day tradition well. In keeping with his own childhood tradition, he'd apparently made sure his Betty had flowers every May 1st.
When she died, he began leaving little May Day surprises on the doorsteps of several very lucky ladies at our church.
In the flurry of Spring activities, I'd forget all about the date until I'd go outside one beautiful spring day and very nearly trip over some sort of potted plant left on my porch or just outside our gate.
A couple of times I've even caught him in the act of leaving them off, but have never let on.
And though he's still recovering from a stroke which he had just a couple of weeks ago, he still managed to have his housekeeper drive him around town this morning (a day ahead of May Day, I might add, to ensure the 'surprise' factor) to help him with his usual covert May Day mission.
And these were the lovely flowers I found on my porch this morning.
Isn't that so sweet?
Yes, another man gives me flowers which I gush over every year and Jeff doesn't even mind, lol.
We sure do love that guy!
And when we grow up...we hope to be just like Glenn & Betty.
Oh, and here's the little treat which we have to sneak over and surprise him with this evening. Cheesecake brownie bites...made to his dietary restrictions and small so he can't overdo it.
6 comments:
What sweet memories! You know, sadly, I didn't even realize what May Day is! It's definitely a tradition I need to look into.
Yes, Mrs Pike called that first time and, with tears in her voice, told me she didn't know HOW long it had been since she's had a May Day bouquet. Ah, the days of the "house with a pond" and the double rainbow that seemed to glimmer over it the very first morning we lived there! Some good memories for sure!
I might have tears in my eyes about the sweetness in this post. I like May Day, too.
That is SO sweet!
That is SO PRECIOUS! We've not celebrated May Day before (in my part of the country)...but boy does that sound like a fun tradition to start. I love it! = )
I'm trying to catch up on blog reading and so glad I didn't miss this post. Made me smile. :)
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