April Rains Bring Blessings

By: Veronica Leighton

 

The most beautiful month of the year, April, gives us a most satisfying feeling of refreshing, rested, and relaxed mind and soul, because of the sprouting of greeneries and blossoming of colorful flowers, plants and trees all around us, the exciting looks of the reborn world.

This month has likewise personally enhanced us with a feeling of thankfulness and blessings as we have done a big positive move in our life to a new place that is making us feeling happier and more contented than ever.

Not knowing that we were both moving at the same time last month to a new location, Columnist Victoria Smith (Warrior’s Heart, page 24), describes the feeling in her poem, “After Dust Settles,” which am quoting…

I’m going to pick myself up where I dropped

myself off before this house possessed me.

After dust settles, I’m going to edit

the excesses of my life out of this home

and prevail over the dust of my life.

What an appropriate poetic description that I would have loved to tell myself and the outside world about my recent move to a wonderful place if I were a poet like Vicki. She moved to California and we moved to a new location, still in Chicago, but we both opted for a simpler, comfortable and more relaxed place to enjoy our lives.

Another word of praise and encouragement (some published last month) came from our respectable Fr. Carlos Llagas, saying, “I’m happy for you both. You have reached your zenith of success and serenity that goes with time.” Thanks much, Fr. Llagas.

Welcoming two new Columnists in this issue: Pureza Ramiro Pacis (Dear Tita Eza, page 19) and Dr. Cass Ingram (Natural Herbalist, page 7). Pureza used to be a social worker, high school teacher, elementary grades teacher, all rolled into one. An ABSW ’61 graduate from the University of he Philippines (UP, she retired from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2005. Write to her and she will answer your life’s dilemmas, problems and obstacles.

Dr. Cass Ingram is a nutritional physician who received a B.S. in biology and chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa (1979) and a D.O. from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA (1984). Dr. Ingram has since written over 20 books on natural healing.

Before closing, here’s a great word of wisdom sent to us…

“When more than 50 Christians are murdered in church on Palm Sunday and a Syrian dictator is found gassing his own people, the outrage over and incessant media coverage of the United Airlines incident this week is mystifying, especially during the most sacred weeks of the year, the media should focus on the realities of men, women and children tortured, murdered, and persecuted for not renouncing their faith. That is a story that deserves to be told.” said Paula Kweskin, producer of a new film Faithkeepers, that reveals personal stories of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East who have suffered acts of persecution at the hands of the Islamic State (ISIS). Enjoy reading your favorite columnists’ articles for an additional delight in savoring what this beautiful spring weather brings to us! Happy Asian American Heritage Month, kicking off on May 1, with Asian American government liaisons and leaders.##

The beautiful look of Spring…blossoming crab apple trees with its fresh-looking white buds landscaping front view of The Pavilion, our new home sweet home.