Whether we are around wildflowers or blooming trees at Arabia Mountain or Panola Mountain...
Or if they are carefully tended flowers in our own garden...
The month of May is Mental Awareness Month. During these stressful times, it is important to remember those who are having trouble coping. There was an REM song that received quite a bit of airplay at the beginning of the pandemic, but the one that I wish would have been given attention was another one..."Everybody Hurts".
May I tell you something? You might not believe this but it is true.
In February (which seems like a lifetime ago now), Richard and I met Michael Stipe. (The lead singer AND songwriter of REM.) I recognized him and asked if I could shake his hand. (Oh the days when one could shake a person's hand and not think a thing about it!) He was most gracious and I am grateful that I am able to recall a moment like that from this year.
So remember, "hold on"! (This song is from their album, "Automatic for the People". Don't you just love that? He got that phrase from a small restaurant in Athens. That would be Athens, Georgia, not Athens, Greece!)
Music and flowers are indeed for the health of the masses. I rely on them too.
ReplyDeleteThey are both a gift from God, I believe!
DeleteCool! I'm a Michael Stipe and REM fan too!
ReplyDeleteI like him more and more even now that I have met him. He was really sweet to stop and shake my hand.
DeleteI am not too keen on Michael Stipe's voice or REM's music, but I appreciate they are great musicians and have something to say through their songs. And shaking hands between two fellow human beings - how I miss such simple gestures... With my friends and family, I am very much a "hugger", but I can only do that with O.K. these days.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers in your pictures, they are true works of art, created by the Greatest Artist of them all!
The Greatest Artist of them all, yes indeed! In fact, the vernal pools on Arabia Mountain, they look as if a master gardener has carefully planted each and every plant in a landscaped and careful bed and yet, they are all wildflowers which come up that way every year!
DeleteYou don't like REM? They are from Georgia, you know, and have always been very popular here. I had no idea how popular they were all over the world until I was much older! Michael Stipe is, I think, just 3 years younger than me. I like him even more now since I met him, looked into his eyes and shook his hand.
What fun to meet him. I would never know who he is. I play a little music but I prefer to listen to the birds and the sound of the breeze in the trees this time of year with everything opened up.
ReplyDeleteWe are closed in all the cold winter so it is a relief to hear and see nature up close again.
Cathy
My husband and I love the birds! I have read that more and more are interested in birds this year since the lockdown happened at the same time that birds were nesting and raising their young. Good, I say..I love birds!
DeleteAnd it was amazing to meet him, just in a small town in Georgia and I am thinking that he thought no one would recognize him! :-)
Such lovely flowers there!
ReplyDeleteThe first four photos of flowers are all wildflowers. (The last one is in our garden.)
DeleteWe have some incredible wildflowers!
If I'm honest I'd never heard of MS. I listened to the song and I can see where he's coming from but his music is not really my cup of tea. Flowers are wonderful for one's health and I enjoyed your pictures of flowers I am not familiar with.
ReplyDeleteStay safe.
As I said in that last reply to Pam's comment, the first 4 photos are all wildflowers! We love the wildflowers here!
DeleteAnd you don't like Michael Stipe! REM has always been wildly popular here in Georgia but then, they are from Georgia so I guess that's why! Not all songwriters can sing but I think Micahel Stipe is good. Much better than Ed Sheeran!
Music and flowers are good for the soul. Both good to take our minds off of what troubles us. I love the pictures you have shown of the flowers there. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMusic and flowers are good for the soul! I need to take photos of all the flowers in our garden, including the veggies we are growing!
DeleteI like your photos. That video is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am glad you like the video. It was at a concert in London. The folks there seem to give a lot of respect to musical artists and know how to sing along!
DeleteThis is so true, Kay. For me, flowers are especially part of what makes life beautiful, and music, too. But I have to confess I do not know REM's music. I think my daughters know it much better.
ReplyDeleteREM is so much a part of the music in Georgia, I didn't really know how popular they were around the world!
DeleteFlower pics are great!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And I even took some of them!
Delete:-)
Such beautiful flowers, I think any flower can lift the spirt!
ReplyDeleteWonderful music choice …
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan! Take care. x
DeleteHow wonderful that you were able to meet Michael Stipe. I'm afraid I don't know him, but it's fabulous that you could. Those flowers are absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI am really good at faces. I know that is you behind that mask!
DeleteWho would have thought back then that shaking hands would become such a "No.No." in so short a time.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, even then since I knew he lived in New York, I thought about it afterwards and made sure I washed my hands! (Sorry Michael Stipe!) I really am like that robot from Lost In Space...danger, Will Robinson!!
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