Carry an umbrella

"As soon as the snow melts the grass begins to grow. Even
though the daytime high is barely above freezing, even
though May is very like November, marsh marigolds bloom
in the swamp and the popple trees produce a faint green
that hangs under the low clouds like a haze over the valley.
This is the way the saints live, no complaints, no suspicion,
no surprise. If it rains, carry an umbrella, if it’s cold, wear
a jacket."

“Saints” by Louis Jenkins

May 8th is Iris Day.  In China, the iris is called “the dancing spirit of early summer" because the petals move in the wind like butterfly wings.  Our iris are blooming late this year.  The sun is finally showing up for work, but it's chilly again after that sweet puff of tropical air last week. This May has more the feel of March, as my brother commented.

We went to the "Magic Flute" yesterday, the last opera this season.  "Flute" is a big draw and money-maker for the opera, kind of like "Nutcracker" in the ballet world.  The seats were filled with people who don't usually go the opera. A good thing, really, but it makes for interesting opera etiquette.

This is the same production we saw in May 2011, with a few tweaks. The brilliance and humanity of Mozart shines right over the cast of Muppets.  I enjoyed it more than any other opera we saw this year.  We had a nice Thai meal afterwards and brought home enough yummy leftovers so I don't have to cook tonight.