May Taste This!
Our families gathered in Springfield to celebrate Clayton's
graduation, and it was quite a party! Lucy even wore a bow! At least
the festivities lasted longer than her hairstyle. We celebrated with Honey Baked Ham, good
strong coffee, and lots of dessert! The
event was culminated as we sat on the edge of our bleachers listening to
Clayton give the commencement address at the Kickapoo High School
graduation ceremony. We were proud of
him and grateful to have our families with us.
Alex Haley once said: "In every conceivable manner, the family is a link
to our past, and a bridge to our future."
That couldn't have been more clear than when my dad pulled
up in our driveway, unpacked the trunk, and brought in my great aunt's silver tea service. It is old, covered with embossed grapes, and
holds many childhood memories. Auntie
used to let me have imaginary tea parties with the graceful pieces when I
visited her during those sizzling Atlanta
summers. Now that I'm grown up, I will
have to have some real tea parties with the charming service that now
sits on my grandmother's buffet in my own dining room. What a treasure!
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour
dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea..." Ahh, the lovely opening to
the novel I am reading for the second time--The Portrait of a Lady by
Henry James. James is considered by
some critics to be one of the greatest novelists of modern times.
The Portrait of a Lady is my very favorite James
novel, and it's a perfect summer read.
It was first published as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan's
Magazine in 1880, and then as a book in 1881. The Portrait of a Lady is a well-spun
story that revolves around "our heroine" Isabel Archer. It deeply explores themes of personal
freedom, independence, betrayal, and romance. I love his insight, his phrasing,
and his characters. You must give this
book a taste test!
My mom and I did a little shopping while she was here for
graduation. We bought two gifts to
commemorate this special time. First, we
both got defusers filled with lavender oil.
We decided that as the aroma fills our homes, which are so far apart,
the fragrance will remind us of being together.
We also bought a lovely Star Jasmine bush for my back porch. It is lush and lovely, and the fragrance
will remind me of Clayton's graduation.
As the bush blossoms and matures, it will be a constant reminder of how
my son is growing and blossoming into a vibrant young man. It will prompt me to reminisce and pray each
time I water it, tend to it, and enjoy its fragrance this summer. I hope your
summer is a time of growth, relaxation, and peace.
In the words of Henry James, "Summer afternoon, summer
afternoon; to me, those have always been the two most beautiful words in the
English language."
So give these things
a taste test:
1. Enjoy a family
heirloom. Don't just admire it--use it
and enjoy it!
2. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
3. Defuser
4. Star Jasmine
