Flowers and Names

I have a free app on my phone that I've so enjoyed.  I often wonder what a certain plant is and this has been pretty handy to help me with the names of plants.  They somehow mean a teensy bit more when I know their name.

Names are important.  I've a long-distance friend I keep in touch with a bit.  Over the last long number of years, she always addresses me:  hi Friend, hey friend, or often just friend.  That's nice and I'm so glad to be considered a friend of hers. But really, she could be acknowledging any one of the thousands of people she's friends with.  I know this sounds nit-picky.  But...it's important.  I've never liked my own name, always wanted to be known by some moniker that implied happiness, or grace or beauty (i.e. Joy, Grace, Patience, I could even have enjoyed Sunshine as my name) rather than some androgynous name that is more often a nickname than a feminine title. But all that aside, it is my name and when people use it to converse with me in any form, I feel personally recognized.  And that's super important for everyone.

This lovely orchid that I've had for many years has been blooming for months.  When we returned from our trip, I thought the petals looked like they were finally nearing the end of their blooming.  I was right. Each of the last two days has found spent blooms on the floor.  I will miss their beauty and be anxious for the next bloom cycle.

So grateful for being back at yoga in person.  Makes it harder to do online on the days there is no class.  But I'll take whatever pleasure is mine in attending personally.