Going Green for St. Patrick's Day

Our maple tree is beginning to bud! I was outside yesterday morning, enjoying the air. I looked up and there it was awake... and reaching out with every twig and tip holding its own proud but delicate bouquet of maple red bloom.

And yesterday I was going to write all about our maple tree beginning to bud- was going to wax poetic on the promise of spring- but a thousand and one things got in the way and here I am again, a day later with even bigger news from our garden here in central Pennsylvania:

yesterday

The first blooms... Our daffodils along the eastern side of the house burst open blooming blooming blooming!

today the Daffadowndillies bloomed!

"Daffadowndillies" my grandmother used to call them... and now I am old enough to know that she was quoting a poem:

Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies,
And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lilies.

- Spenser. http://webster-dictionary.net/definition/Daffodil

Daffodils are technically classified as Narcissus:

The Myth of Narcissus

…and the myth began like this. In a valley, lived a beautiful nymph named Echo who loved to chatter. However, a sad “spell” fell on her. Echo could only repeat, very faintly, the last few words of the sentence. In the same valley lived a good-looking youth named Narcissus, who was so charming that every maiden who saw him, fell in love with him in less than a second. Narcissus, however, was consumed with his own desires and loved no one else. He rejected all his admirers.

One day, Narcissus, while with his friends, was walking and saw a flower. After stopping to pluck it, he lost sight of his friends. In pursuing them, he walked past the tree Echo was resting. In an instant, Echo fell in love with him. She could not bear to lose sight of him, so she followed him without letting him know. She wanted to speak to him, but because she was under the spell, she could not.

While Narcissus was parting some branches to find his friends he said, “Is anybody here?” “Here!” Echo answered faintly. Narcissus looked around not knowing who the voice belonged to, and said, “Where are you? Come here!” whereupon Echo responded, “Here!” Narcissus couldn’t see anyone, but he knew that there was someone close by, so he continued questioning and calling. Each time Echo answered with his last words. She didn’t dare show herself, but she just couldn’t help answering. After a while, she decided to take the chance. She showed up in front of Narcissus and attempted to embrace him. However, Narcisuss rebuffed Echo and ran into the deepest part of the forest.

Narcissus had broken Echo’s heart by his rude and unkind actions. She was so hurt that she stopped eating and grew very pale and thin and wasted away. One of the maidens prayed to the gods and goddesses that he was to only love himself and no one else. Nemesis, who was a goddess of punishment, answered her prayer.

One day, when Narcissus became thirsty, he went to a pool to take a drink. Just before he was about to take a sip from the pool, he saw the reflection of his own face, but he didn’t know it was only a reflection. He couldn’t tear himself away from the appearance in the water. And like Echo, he stopped eating and became really pale and thin and also wasted away. After he died, his body “turned” into a flower that was named after him, Narcissus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_(mythology)

Myths are fascinating- their power to draw us in and repeat what appears to be true on a primal level... although as we age and mature the meaning might change. Like every poem, a myth really is open for interpretation. They capture us and are passed around and down through the ages, each generation rediscovering for themselves anew why the myth might have meaning.


Today happens to be St. Patrick's day. Our grocery stores are selling soda bread and cakes decorated with green icing and leprechauns and four leaf clovers. I am what is called a marketing major's dream. I stand in line in the grocery store looking at what ever might be there, while my husband does the hard work of actually emptying to contents of the overly full oversized grocery cart onto the conveyor belt so that the cashier can ring them in. My husband then bags all the groceries, mostly in the green bags we bring from home. A small green gesture.

A few weeks ago, there in the grocery line, looking through the magazines I might buy there were several ones on Ireland and the Irish. Mainly cooking and crafts. Although I know from my years of working at the bookstore that the theme is everywhere there too, to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. But this is the grocery store where most every one goes and standing there looking at the cheerful green cover of "Irish Food, Fun and Crafts" I thought gosh I long for the day when I am in the grocery line and there are cheerful little magazines celebrating Palestine Food, Fun and Crafts!

As I type this my husband keeps interrupting me. He is really excited about a new book I bought called "Palestinian Cookery". He is doing some hard core fantasizing right now! The upside of this cook book is that it is in English so I can read it too. Already I make many recipes that he has taught me, as well as ones that his mother has shown me through out the years. Heavens Teta is an amazing cook, recipes from all over the world really. She has quite a repertoire and a huge kitchen. And she spoils us with delicious foods. Our kitchen here is far too small with hardly enough counter space but we manage to make the most of it. When she visits she packs her suitcase full of food. Zaatar that Baba makes, plus basic ingredients for traditional recipes that we can't find here, and sweets.

Ok- I just got interrupted another ten times- my husband really is excited about this great cookbook! He keeps saying things like- remember this- we had it at my Auntie Samia's house the last time we were there. I like seeing him so happy.


And so in growing a private personal garden for Palestine- celebrate the first signs of spring- the first blooms...simply enjoy them. And if nothing is blooming yet you can always buy a bit of hope: Seeds- or t-shirts-or a cookbook- or art or what ever might have meaning for you... even if you do have to keep it tucked away in a closet- for now at least.


And in growing a public garden for Palestine, we've stepped through the key shaped entry and the garden might not be in bloom yet- but there can be tables with crafts- heavens a whole industry of crafts for Palestine...simply to honor Palestine in every possible way. And symbols of Palestine will be as lucky as a four leaf clover- and as well known.


And keys will be everywhere. Keys celebrating home- and family- and Palestine...celebrating a precious heritage...paper keys and crayoned keys and wooden keys and metal keys and one craft will be to string up metal keys to make wind chimes to ring in the breeze.