The Grapevine: Looking Back on May Pole Dancing, Talk of Toilet Paper, Reading, Mother's Day and More
By Rosalyn Queen on May 05, 2020 from The Grapevine
In trying to keep my spirits up, I woke up Friday morning, the first day of May, thinking about the May Pole. I cannot remember where this custom started, but I was introduced to it as an elementary student at East View Grade School.
My memory fails me when I try to think which teacher taught us, but I want to think that it was Miss McDonald our second grade teacher. Every spring we had a program for our parents, which included a play and singing and one year we had a May Pole Dance. Someone erected a large pole in the side yard of the school and it had attached to it about 20 ribbon banners.
We were taught to dance around the pole in a circular fashion and as we weaved our way around the pole the ribbons formed a pretty woven pattern. We were done when the ribbons were completely woven to the bottom. Although I have never participated in the May Pole Dance since, it has left a great memory for me.
So much spare time let’s me do a lot of thinking. Over the past month I have tried to make rhyme or reason why toilet paper was the object of hoarding. Why not dish or laundry soap? Or how about butter or oil? Did we think that being in a pandemic would cause us to have a three month case of diarrhea? Now I know from example this can happen, because during my chemo treatments, I had diarrhea for almost three years. But not once did I run out of toilet paper or have to substitute a catalog or newspaper. Maybe someone could enlighten me as to why everyone chose toilet paper to,hoard.
Being confined to the house with so much spare time has given me the opportunity to do a lot of reading. My latest book was With White Gloves, a novel about Grace Kelley. Although it was termed a novel, for whatever reason, it seemed like a biography. One reason I enjoyed it so much was because on my last cruise, before having cancer, I was able to visit Monaco and the burial place of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. They are buried in a church located on a hill in Monaco. Their graves are located behind the alter of the church enclosed in beautiful marble. Whether true or not the book painted a sorrowful picture of the princess. It appeared she had the same problems as we normal people did. On the light side I guess I am happy to be a common “QUEEN.”
It is time to think about gardens, but my first attempt this year has not turned out well. I tried planting basil but it seems it Is dying. I hope to try it again, I cannot imagine summer salads without fresh basil. If you are looking for plants, support the local high schools who are selling them from their hot houses.
As we approach Mothers Day, take time to honor your mother and do not forget that lady down the street who might not have a child or one who lives near. I hope that we will be able to go out to dinner but if not we can still gather. You only have one mother, so celebrate her.
Take care, keep in touch, stay healthy and until next week.
Now You Have Heard It "Through The Grapevine.”
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