As we walked to our car after spending our Sunday at the May Day Festival, a fellow pedestrian wished us a happy May Day. He added, “It’s Minnesota Christmas!” We laughed, but it wasn’t far off.
Spring returned in time for the celebration of art and community. I’d been worried that we would have to bundle up to watch the parade since it snowed only a few days before, but whatever the weather, I was happy that it was happening at all. There was some possibility that it wouldn’t happen due to limited funds this year. That certainly would have been like canceling Christmas. The May Day parade is more than just another parade. It reminds us of where we are in the world, that we’re part of a community, that we can make our world a better place. As a sign in the parade stated, “May Day feeds our souls.”
This year, in particular, the parade story celebrated people everywhere and wished us well with a larger than life cautionary tale themed “See the World.” The program quoted Carl Sagan’s words from The Pale Blue Dot:
“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives . . .”
Here we are, and we’re in this together. Let’s see the world and cherish it. My soul is full, and I am well-fed.
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