Today is a day for flowers.

Flowers for Laurie, for Cafe Racer, for Hien, who died last Memorial Day weekend.  Flowers for the rest of us, who are still here, and need something bright, something to celebrate.  Even if the people who were killed the last week in Seattle (not just those at Cafe Racer and the car jacking, but the student who jumped off a balcony at the UW the day before) were not close to you, or your friends, their loss is felt.  Loss, psychologists will tell you, is cumulative.  This week was, itself, a reminder and bringer of loss. 

Today I want to celebrate the beauty of those lives we lost, but also those yet to be lived.  And flowers, flowers seen on walks around in May, seem the only way to do that.  For me.  I know it will be different for everyone.