I remember a wise young woman on the Erin islands beginning a ceremony with these words. Not having written for some time now, I will take her advice and begin by beginning.
What a time we have weathered. "We thank God for having enabled us to reach this moment." translation of a Hebrew Blessing, so fitting for these times.
In September 2021, I attended a wedding officiated by the brother of the bride who I helped a bit. It was a Maine Magical wedding. The sense of place was like a honored guest for Little Deer Isle on Penobscot Bay was summer home to the bride's family for generatiions. The venue, Oakland House Seaside Resorts was elegantly rustic, the staff so charming and hospitable.
On this last day of winter 2022, I pause, acknowledging the passing of another season.
As the poet Dorianne Laux says in her poem, Crow Moon,
"and we stand below it, don't we, young as we'll ever be"
We bid adieu to winter 2022 but as Cape Codders we know it takes staying well-seasoned and salty to get through the next couple of months. The end of "skeleton trees" (from Crow Moon) won't come until May.
This "Stay Salty" photo is from a quintessential Cape Cod Wedding some years and kiddos ago. (What joy I get from facebook seeing the offspring of wedding couples. The "I do's" turning into "Look at what we did!") Beautiful beginnings of life anew.
Having weathered the storms of the last two years we are a bit rusty, more salty, well-seasoned and ready to focus on what is true. "The love that you share and the way that you care." is a line from a Jamie O'Hara song that sums up what matters in the end. With endings having taken so much, lets pause, then begin anew by beginning again. With love supreme, let us Begin the Beguine. -Rev Kate March 19, 2022