Ahhhh, breathe in deep and experience the sweet smell of lilacs in May. I imagine it must be just heavenly at the annual Lilac Festival at Mackinac Island. During today’s walk it seemed that every corner lot I passed lilac bushes were laden with bloom-filled branches that spilled over the chain-link fence – there were huge aromatic dark blooms and the more common lightly scented lavender type too. So, on a variation of the old adage of ‘taking time to stop and smell the roses’, I stopped several times to breathe in deep (hoping all the while no bee was hiding and went up my nose). What a heady experience inhaling Mother Nature’s own potpourri mixture. I must go out in my own backyard and sniff the Schaub lilacs which at nearly fifty years old continue to bloom profusely every Spring, despite a few bouts of powdery mildew. Today Mother Nature gets an “A” in art class because she surely was busy with her paintbrush adorning our City with an array of every shade of pink on the palette of gorgeous azaleas. I am inspired by their beauty, though I’ve never tried to grow them. The birds were twittering and trilling their melodic songs as if they, too, were inspired by the beautiful Spring offerings. So while plodding along on my promenade I did a thumbs up to God for his grandeur plus made sure to count my blessings on how good it feels to be alive and possess the ability to see, hear and smell on this beautiful and peaceful morn. So, words to the wise …
Don’t hurry.
Don’t worry.
You’re only here for a short visit.
So don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.
-Walter Hagen