It was close to the end of the cherry blossom season, and we had lots of stuff to do, but we couldn’t pass up the chance to gather at the Mariko River for one last round of hanami (cherry blossom viewing/appreciation/enjoyment).

Many of the petals had blown away.

But many had not.

Still, it was a day when you had to admit how fleeting the beauty was—which of course made it all the more beautiful. These blossoms, literally here today and gone tomorrow.

You know that that is exactly what this iris is thinking. He and his friends were so taken with the blossoms on the trees and the blossoms in the wind . . . 

. . . that they danced with joy.

I was so happy that I (with the help of a couple of soon-to-be great musicians) wrote a song. Go ahead and listen. It’s only 18 seconds long.

I know, I know, you may think that I’m hopelessly lost in a romantic dream, but yes, even I am aware that there is often a snake in the garden.   

Everybody has their own way of grieving for those blossoms drifting down the river.

But no, I won’t leave you with that image. I’ll leave you with this one.