I thought I’d start April with a very short post. Spring has always been my favorite time of year, and never more so than when I get to visit Portland’s Waterfront Park. At the Japanese American Memorial Plaza, the cherry trees come into bloom in mid to late March. Over the past few years, I’ve made it a point to visit the Plaza to enjoy the spectacle and take a few good pictures. This year was no exception.
I’d like to offer a prayer for all of us throughout this season. I recognize that we are living in interesting times, to quote an old Chinese curse. Yet if spring has taught us anything, it’s that all of us deserve to have a season of growth and renewal. We may not all be on the same journey, and we might find ourselves at odds with others because of our values and circumstances. Yet all of us are still searching for what makes us whole. My wish is that we manage to find some peace within the chaos of our lives and that we can allow ourselves some forgiveness if we can’t measure up to the challenges we face. All of us need to take stock once in a while, and springtime assures us that better days are ahead. We just have to be willing to plow through the winter first before sunny skies and cherry blossoms appear again.
Freedman on the Go 