IN CELEBRATION OF FAERIES

"FAIRIES MIDST SWEET PEAS"

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Sometimes there are no words for the unspeakable horrors and evils in this world. I call to mind my previous post about the Holocaust.

Sometimes we endure our own individual nightmares. Though we may never have been the victims of genocide, child abuse, murder, starvation, political torture, terminal illness and the like, we all have our own private hells. Even though they may be far more insignificant, when we are enduring them, they impact us greatly.

I have been in my own micro-hell for an entire season and more. Since early February, life has seemed to me all doom and gloom. Though I have largely chosen not to blog about them, certain outward events caused inward terrors - mostly night terrors. Sleep has eluded me for weeks and weeks.

Blogging was the first enjoyment to go. Then commenting. Then e-mailing. I have neglected my good blogging friends, as well as the new ones who had timorously extended their precious hands of friendship to me.

Finally, when life seemed to again glow and shimmer with promise, the rains came.

Oh, yes, you remember me begging for rain. It has rained now for three weeks. We have received three inches so far in June! This is wonderful for drought-starved ND, but so burdensome on my tenuous happiness.

Remember the short-lived TV series, in which Steven Weber walked around with a constant storm cloud above his head? That is how I have been feeling the past three weeks. I don't want to clean house. The dogs drag in mud. At work my brain is muzzy and foggy. Mail promised parcels? Plant some flowers? Finish a book? Make some art? Impossible.

But this afternoon, the skies cleared, the air warmed. Light and life returned. To keep this elusive, tentative happiness near, I have decided to celebrate International Fairy Day (June 24) for the rest of the month.

I'm sure you know the phrases, "Whatever rings your chimes" and "Whatever floats your boat". Well, to me, all month, Fairy Day rings my chimes and floats my boat.

In the end, it doesn't matter what gives you a lifeline, if it saves you. Rainbows? Hearts and flowers? Unicorns? Fairies? Balloons? Kittens? Cute puppies? Elvis? Star Wars? The Lord of the Rings? Yes, yes, embrace them!

Recently a very good blogging friend of mine was chastised for writing about fairies in her blog. The commenter, a self-described Christian, to me epitomizes those self-righteous, sanctimonious, self-serving "SO-CALLED" Christians who make life so miserable for so many. My friend was deeply wounded.

But, dear Pea - and other friends - be not afraid to embrace the fairies. I plan to write many posts about fairies during the rest of June. Watch out for Fairy Day - June 24 - and the day after, my birthday! Yes, Fairy Day is on the eve of my birthday this year, so extra celebrating will ensue.

And if you don't care to read about fairies, and think this is all nonsense, feel free to depart - silently. (Forgive me - I am a bit angry. The wonderful lady who started the Holocaust Project was chastised by a commenter for - get this - simply asking people if they cared to participate in the project!!!!)

But back to floating boats and ringing chimes. Another dear blogging friend, Robyn in Australia, has been posting about fairies for a couple of weeks already. Last January, in celebration of her 50th birthday, Robyn created a private Fairyland. Now, in celebration of Fairy Day, she has opened Fairyland for an entire month. But beware - one month flies by so quickly. Don't miss it!

I don't believe Robyn and I will steal each other's thunder and overlap much in our Fairy Day celebrations (but I have "spirited away" some of her images, ha!). Please visit her and read her wonderful posts, which include the previously private entries. She will tell you how to entice the fairies, tell you their lore and legends and show you how they are connected to the natural world.

"DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAIRIES?"

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As for me, I will be sharing the gorgeous fairy paintings I have collected. I start with the four paintings you see in this post, which are all by the wonderful fairy painter, Margaret Tarrant. I will also be printing fairy poems and anything else about fairies that strikes my fancy.

Though official Fairy Day is still some days away, I am giving you the link to the Fairy Day website now so that you may peruse it and find creative ways to celebrate the day: http://www.fairyday.com/. There, you'll see the Fairy Day button I'm using, and a lot more to choose from.

"SLEEPING BEAUTY"

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Now, I beg you to carefully step aboard Tarrant's "Boat to Fairyland", below. It will take you all the way to Australia, where Dear Robyn has opened the Portal to Fairyland. After you climb upon her magic bird, you will be immediately transported and alight, unharmed, in "The Enchanted Forest": http://theportaltofaeryland.blogspot.com/