Feeling young again

Yesterday I took a stroll down memory lane, and it made me feel young again.  I don't know about other parts of the U.S., but in the Midwest we used to celebrate May Day, May first, by making and distributing May Baskets.  In my youth the walls of most homes were covered with wallpaper, and you could get a sample wallpaper book at several stores.  We kids would go to the store and ask for a wallpaper sample book.  The store owners were very generous and would save the wallpaper books for us when the store received new books from the manufacturers. 

If I remember correctly, the books were filled with pages of wallpaper samples that were about twelve inches by fifteen inches in size.  We would then use the pages to make May Baskets.  Usually they were just little box shaped containers with a handle pasted on the top.  We would then fill the basket with any kind of flowers we could find.  At that time of year in Nebraska, there were few flowers blooming other than lilacs.  Our neighbor had a lovely lilac bush, and, now I'm confessing, since the neighbors were seldom home, we would pick some of their lilac blooms for our baskets.  We were too poor to put any candy or nuts into the baskets.

Then we would distribute the baskets throughout the neighborhood.  We would sneak up to a door on a neighbor's house, knock and yell "May Basket", then we would run away from the door.  Usually we hid around the corner just to hear the neighbor exclaim over receiving the basket.  In those depression days when everyone was extremely poor, it was a great treat to be able to give someone a gift.  I am positive the neighbor with the lilac bush knew that we had snitched some of her flowers, but never once were we chastised for doing it.

In fact, if I remember correctly, sometimes we would even give a basket to the neighbors whose lilacs we used.  What a fun thing to remember.   Then, as I got older, the only thing I remember is that May first was called Communist Day and we hated it.  I realize that Communism is still alive and kicking in the world today, but it doesn't seem to scare us quite as much.

Don't forget to attend the Spring concert by the Glenn Chorale this coming Sunday, May 4 at the Memorial Hall.  The title of the program is "Made in America" with the songs all written by American composers.  Everything from spirituals to Hoagie Carmichael.  Also, the song Stamp your Feet by Aaron Copeland will be one of the hits.  Lots of medleys of old tunes we all will remember At least I'm certain you'll remember if you're from my generation.  I guess I could just say the May Basket generation.  But everyone should enjoy all the music since it is "our" music.  I think the program starts at 2 p.m., and the cost is only $6 for admittance. Hope to see ya there.

I must tell you that both Proposition 98 and Proposition 99 will be on our June ballot.  I am still trying to determine exactly how each proposition will affect property owners.  Prop 98 seems to be super as far as imminent domain is concerned, but it also adds eliminating rent control.  On the other hand, I don't think that Prop 99 is as good as Prop 98 as far as imminent domain is concerned, but it doesn't add the rent control question.  I currently have a telephone call into Senator Aanestad's office to help me solve the problem , and I will let you know what they tell me.

I have already spoken to the office of two Senators, the City Hall, the Secretary of States office, four Realtors, a Title Company and a partridge in a pear tree.  So far, no complete answers from anyone including the little bird.  I am presently waiting to hear from Senator Aanestads's office and the City Hall .   I understand that sample ballots are in the mail, so watch for it and study up on it.  It doesn't do any good to vote if we don't know the whys and whatfors.

I always knew that April showers bring May flowers, but I didn't know that Mayflowers brought Pilgrims.   Or maybe Mayflowers bring the Movers.