May has always been my favourite month.
1. It announces the arrival of Spring or at least the promise that Winter is now well and truly behind us.
2. It’s my birthday month (it does, admittedly, get somewhat less exciting each year, but you know what they say about it being better than the alternative…).
3. It’s also the birthday month of one of my sisters and one of my closest friends.
4. It has not one, but 2 Bank Holidays in it. Have to love those 3-day weekends!
5. I love the concept, if not always the practice, of May Day — a day when the workers of the world can unite and stand together in the face of grinding bureaucracy (oops, my “lefty slip” is showing…)
Now this year, May is also the month of:
1. My book launch and all the excitement that generates!
2. My parents trip here from New York to celebrate it!
3. Son #2’s first formal “prom” — a throw-back to the American 50’s, complete with boys in dj’s (ie tuxedos), girls in strapless gowns, corsages, boutonnieres, limousines and kids generally getting up to no good but with an old-fashioned sort of twist.
4. This year it’s also the month of Son #2’s big school exams, and all the anxiety that generates.
5. And as long as I’ve let the political cat out of the bag, today is also election day here in London, an exercise I will undertake as soon as I finish writing this, although I do it not only with civic pride and seriousness of purpose, but this year with a heaping tablespoon of exasperation and resignation.
So let’s celebrate the arrival of May. And in honour of this wonderful month, here is a video from long ago. Yes indeed, this is exactly what is happening today in my little corner of central London …..
Yay for May!
Sounds like May is going to be a good one for you!! I’m looking forward to hearing all about it 🙂
C x
brilliant! Hurrah for May and Happy Birthday, and happy launch Day – and yes, May Day : here’s to the memory of the Workers of the World Uniting and the American (or was it just Californian?) custom of making little May baskets with wildflower and ribbon arrangements and hanging them on your mother’s door?
What a busy May you’re going to be having. How exciting that your book launch is so soon, best of luck with it.
I always fancied going to a typical 50s prom. They’ve only started doing proms quite recently where I live but he youngsters love them.
My son has exams this month too, poor thing.
Happy B’day, Sue!
Happy Launch DayS, Sue, both of them!
Happy May, Sue!
(I hope you won’t be going ‘merrily astray’, though)
Helen and Carol: It’s going to be one wild ride, that’s for sure!
Kate: I’ve heard of May baskets but never really got what they were. But if you hang them on your mother’s door, then are you old enough not to be living with your mother? And if you’re old enough not to be living with your mother, why are you still making may baskets? Ahh, these are the real questions of life!
Debs: Good luck to your son, too. And thanks for dropping by. I just checked out your blog too and will keep stopping by!
Deborah: Thanks for all the Happys! (Although I am still slightly considering going astray a bit sometime….)
May your May be whahey!
no no Sue – it’s for Children