Thank you, Viktor for your kind words! And I hope you enjoy your trip to Japan. I'm not there at the moment, but if you're going to be there for a while, drop me a line and we can perhaps meet up.
I live in Belsize Park London and only recently discovered that there are beautiful cherry trees just outside the Swiss Cottage library and sports centre. The brevity of the season was brought home to me by the fact that they were in full bloom last week and very much finished this week.
Indeed. At 83, I tend to think I should be heeding that lesson, but it is actually very difficult to lead one's life as if it were about to end soon. (I once wrote a post where I said something like "you have your lunch, do the dishes, put them away and sit down in your rocking chair with everything neat and tidy, waiting for the grim reaper' as what we don't do. As it is, I am about to have a nice lunch with my lovely husband and go off for a choir rehearsal and sing Mozart's mass tonight in a London church. There are worse ways to live.
Beautiful Jeffrey! I read this while looking out the window at our row of cherry and plum tree, just now blossoming. One of my favorite things about these early bloomers is their promise of pollinators, not in swarms like summer gatherings, but a few courageous bees start sniffing around and remind me of all the abundance to come. 🌸
Gah! This is gobsmackingly beautiful.
"There’s the brave, thoughtless beauty of the cherry blossom, born into glory and dying without regret."
"I don’t look back, but I imagine them turning on their axes in the spring breeze, swirling like weightless sensations of hope in the heart."
Wow, truly.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Ramya. Truly humbling!
Just as good the second time!
Thank you, David!
This was beautiful, Jeff. Delicate and touching. It's made me even more excited to be visiting Japan in the next few days 🙏🏽
Thank you, Viktor for your kind words! And I hope you enjoy your trip to Japan. I'm not there at the moment, but if you're going to be there for a while, drop me a line and we can perhaps meet up.
Jeffrey, Thank you so much for the lovely photos and this wonderful essay. The cherry blossoms and anemones are so beautiful.
A lovely post Jeffrey. It seems to blossom with just as much beauty as the first time I read it.
P.S — I really like some of the pics I’m this post, those cherry blossoms look amazing. :)
Thank you, Michael! They are indeed amazing!
I love cherry blossoms and learning about bushido and the way delicate things often have the undertone of warrior.
I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Deirdre!
I live in Belsize Park London and only recently discovered that there are beautiful cherry trees just outside the Swiss Cottage library and sports centre. The brevity of the season was brought home to me by the fact that they were in full bloom last week and very much finished this week.
Thank you, Ann. That's the way with the cherry blossom, isn't it? An annual lesson in making the most of our brief time…
Indeed. At 83, I tend to think I should be heeding that lesson, but it is actually very difficult to lead one's life as if it were about to end soon. (I once wrote a post where I said something like "you have your lunch, do the dishes, put them away and sit down in your rocking chair with everything neat and tidy, waiting for the grim reaper' as what we don't do. As it is, I am about to have a nice lunch with my lovely husband and go off for a choir rehearsal and sing Mozart's mass tonight in a London church. There are worse ways to live.
I agree, it's hard to have the grim reaper in permanent focus. And your afternoon plans sound great. Enjoy!
So lovely to read this again! I’m happy to report that the cherry blossom has been incredible in Whitstable this year 🌸
Thank you, Katherine! And enjoy the blossoms!
Beautiful Jeffrey! I read this while looking out the window at our row of cherry and plum tree, just now blossoming. One of my favorite things about these early bloomers is their promise of pollinators, not in swarms like summer gatherings, but a few courageous bees start sniffing around and remind me of all the abundance to come. 🌸
Thank you, Kimberly. Yes, the hint of abundance to come... And the poignancy of their fading. The beauty of the petals disappearing in the breeze.