March Rites

Yesterday was the Equinox, and we definitely sensed something new & Vernal in the air. Oh, we've been seeing the signs of Spring for a while now -- the crocuses popped up in February, then the daffodils, and last week the magnolias finally arrived. But yesterday felt different. The breeze carried a warm, muddy smell. Simon took his model of the Aleppo Citadel out onto the terrace and painted it in the sun. Kids ran in and out of the house all day and nobody shouted at them to close the doors, you're letting all the heat out! There was even a water fight.

We had to experience Ioan's sixth birthday party vicariously, alas, but it sure sounded fabulous second-hand: a scavenger hunt that led everyone on their own individual path to the treehouse (where their goody bags awaited them); a Kids v. Grown-ups soccer game in the backyard (the Kids won); a giant chocolate dragon cake breathing cherry-fruit-leather fire (we were proud  to contribute our food coloring cache to this miraculous confection, and grateful to experience the results through Mike's iPhone pictures and the mouthful of leftover tail we found in the fridge later). When we finally did get to wish Ioan a Happy Birthday in person, we followed the Italian tradition of pulling his ears once for every year of his age. Ioan's ears have become somewhat legendary for their softness, but about a month ago he got so tired of having people fondling them all the time, he started charging a dollar for every ear touch -- and clamping his hands over them every time he walked into our house -- so we were especially delighted to have this opportunity. Grazie, Italia!


Other Rites of Spring we are celebrating this month include: peat pots sprouting in the window, March Madness on the internet, egg balancing on the counter, and the commencement of new, crazy, ambitious schemes for neighborhood improvement -- more on these soon, I hope!