Rasa Ardys-Juška, Editor

P e r s p e c t i v e s

May has been a truly worth while month. Not that the other months previous to it have been uneventful but somehow the first breath of spring complete with flowers, foliage, and warm breezes relax the spirit. Also it’s a relief when we can really experience an honest to gosh spring rather than "from the cold to the heat in one fell swoop" type of season.

Most of the neighbors have begun to show themselves after hibernating in their warm homes and stuffy offices. They wander around their homes pulling the first weeds and mowing for the first time. Most of the conversation centers around catching up on the news or the bit of gossip.

Children seem at least a foot taller than in the fall. One little boy next door has gone from toddling carefully around the front yard to zipping along with his dog. Those on tricycles are practicing their balancing acts on shiny new bikes. I always keep a stash of bandaids in my pocket for those unexpected moments of enthusiastic bicycling.

On Mother’s Day most of the moms are out planting their flowers and sprucing up the garden beds for the vegetables to come. Being a nudge-type with my sons, I drag them outside and have them haul a bit of dirt here and a bush over there. They don’t seem to mind it until I start quizzing them about what the plants are called in Lithuanian. And what beautiful names they have — ramunélé, gvazdikas, rozé, neuzmirštuolé. Now how could they complain.

Yes, May has been a worth while month this year. So much accomplished with so much pleasure.