Thirteen Blossoms

Today, May 13, is Nicholas's birthday. He would have been 27 years old.

I went out to the peace garden and found 13 blossoms opened on the clematis vine on the fence. At first I counted only 11. I had to lean over the other side to find the last two.

A silent message to remind me: the barriers we build--whether physical, emotional, spiritual--they are all nonsense. Are we brave enough to lay down our shields, to let love overrun the place?

With joy, thanksgiving and praise for the beautiful soul I knew as my son.

Let love run riot.