There is so much for which to be grateful. Three large Serviceberry trees in full bloom on a Spring morning are a wonderful reminder!
Moms too are reminders of how much we have to be thankful for, including life itself. My mom seemed nearly always to be grateful, even if her life was not always easy. She inspired me to be grateful of life.
These past few weeks have been day after day of appreciating the arrival of Spring, the wonder of family and friends, and the many small things that make my town of Montpelier such a great place to live. Here are a few highlights:
In the light of the all-too-often dismal news that greets us daily, one might argue that Montpelier is an anomaly. I’d suggest we are not, that we represent life as it can be and what is, in fact, normal in life. Small towns and villages and neighborhoods all over the world look much like we do—celebrating Spring, gathering at a market of local farmers, nurturing our children and the arts and doing our best to be our best.
While the world is certainly rife with problems—all caused by myself and our fellow human animals—I suggest the world we see on the six o’clock news, even though all too real for too many, is the one that is not normal. We can do better than that and, really, we must.
I am grateful for the small things nearly every day. Thanks, mom, for reminding me and inspiring me.
Still Learning To See 
What a splendid tribute to life itself. We need to be inspired, need to appreciate all the dailyness around us, and life within it. Thanks John. Your messages are always welcome. Cheers and love, Marg
On Sun, May 8, 2016 at 8:46 AM, Still Learning To See wrote:
> John Snell posted: “There is so much for which to be grateful. Three large > Serviceberry trees in full bloom on a Spring morning are a wonderful > reminder! Moms too are reminders of how much we have to be thankful for, > including life itself. My mom seemed nearly always to b” >
Thanks, Marg. You and mom certainly shared many similar ways of being AND you too are an inspiration to many of us. Hugs.
I appreciate and second your summation: “While the world is certainly rife with problems—all caused by myself and our fellow human animals—I suggest the world we see on the six o’clock news, even though all too real for too many, is the one that is not normal. We can do better than that and, really, we must.”
I’d just like to add, on a more fanciful note, that as soon as I saw your lead photograph of the flowering trees (which I call shadbush, an alternate name), I recognized the Pavilion Building, home of the Vermont History Museum. And couldn’t help but observe on a successive photo of the mass yoga gathering, being from another such small town (Brattleboro), that nearly all the participants are female. The fact just jumped out at me…
Yes, it was fascinating, but not surprising, to see the mats filled with females. There were a sprinkling of males—I was tempted to lay down my cameras and join in—but it seems mostly it is women who know the value of a yoga practice. Sad as we men can benefit so much from it—I certainly have—as would the world over which we have such great, and all too often destructive, influence.
Wonderful, hopeful words, and encouraging photos. I love the shot of your mom. There is truly much to be grateful for. I’m catching up as we had worse than usual internet during our recent boat trip.