>> ADIA: FOR SOME REASON, LILAC SEASON USUALLY TAKES ME BY SURPRISE, BUT THIS YEAR I WAS READY.

I’D BEEN SCANNING THE FORECAST, HOPING FOR A BREAK IN THE HEAT, SO I HAPPENED TO LOOK FAR ENOUGH AHEAD TO SEE STORMS HEADING OUR WAY.

AFTER THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE MAKING LILAC SYRUP, I KNEW THAT THE WIND AND RAIN WOULD STRIP THE BLOSSOMS FROM THE BRANCHES, SO I NEEDED TO HARVEST THEM ASAP.

I INVITED MY MOM TO STICK AROUND AFTER DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF AND HELP WITH THE LILAC HARVEST AND SYRUP PREP.

THAT MEANT THAT I CLIMBED THE LADDER WHILE MY MOM AND TODDLER DAUGHTER PLAYED ON THE HAMMOCK BELOW; SWEETNESS ABOVE AND BELOW.

IT TOOK US THE BETTER PART OF TWO HOURS TO SEPARATE THE PALE PURPLE BLOSSOMS FROM THE STEMS AND STAMENS AS WE WORKED, CHATTED, AND WATCHED THE TODDLER DUNK HER HEAD INTO THE SPRINKLER AS IT SWAYED BACK AND FORTH, THEN RUN AWAY SCREAMING WITH LAUGHTER.

THE WORK WAS A WELCOME, CALMING MEDITATION WHEN- ALL TOO OFTEN THESE DAYS- I’M LOW-KEY UNSETTLED OVER WHATEVER OUTRAGEOUS HEADLINE I JUST READ OR THE ENDLESS MENTAL STREAM OF LIFE LOGISTICS.

WORKING WITH MY HANDS GAVE ME A SIMPLE GOAL, QUIET CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO KNOWS ME BEST, AND THREE GENERATIONS OF NECTAR-STICKY FINGERS BASKING IN THE WARM- BLESSEDLY NOT HUMID- SPRING EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR STAYING TO HELP WITH THE LILACS, MOM.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.