June 14, 2020
What is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days....
-- James Russell Lowell--
I was persuaded to take today off from work, and now, after a bunch of nights last week when I went to bed after the sun came up, and in expectation that this week is going to be another doozy, I'm going to go to bed and give myself-- and all of you-- a night off from the relentless pace of the news these days (which today, by the way, largely continued stories from earlier in the week).
It's been quite a cold spring in Maine, but the flowers seem all the better for it. Our lupines are in full bloom, flowers some of you might know from Barbara Cooney's children's book, Miss Rumphius. And for those of you who do know the book, here's your historical trivia for the night: the Lupine Lady really existed, seeding lupine flowers along the country roadsides, as Cooney wrote, "to make the world more beautiful."
Lupine was one of the very first plants to grow in the wasteland around Mt. St. Helens following the eruption in 1980. They came back way sooner than anyone expected; little bombs of seeds wrapped in bird poop all set to grow. Since they're legumes, they improved the soil very quickly. Coast to coast, they're gifts to us all. Thank you, Lupine Lady!
We all appreciate your exhaustive diligence to bring us the core of the day's news. However, I think you should take every Sunday and maybe even Saturday off to rest and enjoy your family. If a catastrophic event would occur, you could always weigh in. Rest - necessary for the body and soul.