Dear Reader:

Yesterday I needed my garden sanctuary more than I have in a long time. Charleston, along, with Columbia, Myrtle Beach, Greenville, and other cities experienced different forms of protests on Saturday ignited by the murder of George Floyd by the police in Minneapolis…some ranging from overall peaceful protests to sadly overall violent.

Unfortunately both Columbia and Charleston experienced both sides of the coin…starting out peaceful and accelerating into violence. It is hard to watch and realize that this is happening in our own back yards.

Summerville had one rally yesterday and plans have been discussed for a march from Walmart to Hutchinson Square this afternoon. I hear an inner voice inside me pleading: “Let there be peace, let there be peace” with these demonstrations of justified anger against racial bias.

However, there is no justification for looting, burning, and destroying innocent people’s property/businesses…in the name of justice. The two don’t equate in any kind of math formula I ever remember. The sad part is…some of the Charleston downtown businesses had just re-opened from the coronavirus shut-down…only now to be permanently shut down because of lack of funds to rebuild their businesses on an already shoestring budget.

Reverend Middleton ended a local live news channel program yesterday (which included the mayor, the police and fire chiefs, congressmen, and other public figures.) He prayed …quoting St. Francis of Assisi “Make us channels of your peace.”

I felt an urgent need to go directly to my garden…sitting down next to my statue of St. Francis of Assisi….conversing with “him.” I googled his quotes because I remember one about sowing…which I used to open the garden to any and all when it was first initially complete.

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” 

I had been so frustrated…but now I felt a sense of peace engulf me…that despite my frustration and torn feelings over the merits of justifiable anger and resentment of racial bias displayed way too often in the news today…and a way to united all races together against any kind of racial injustice without resorting to violence…we must all sow love in compassion so that life will one day bloom instead of being uprooted.

So until tomorrow…while sitting next to the statue of St. Francis…a beam of  sunlight fell on the beautiful blue gazing ball Joan Turner gave me….and for a moment it looked like a globe…with life-giving water and shadows of continents upon it. We are all in this together…to make a peaceful life for all who live here on this planet …we call home.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Can you believe it is the first day of the month…June? We most certainly need a lot of luck this month (and prayers) with so many challenges facing us simultaneously. Don’t forget to say “RABBIT RABBIT” first thing today!

***Our adorable Pip made the top 40 “model” dogs for the lowcountry and the voting has started! The contest runs through June 15. You can only vote one time and our family would love your support for this tiny little rescue dog that has brought so much tremendous love into our family. Everyone (who meets him) falls in love with him.

Hint: After you fill in your email and name…there is a big blue SUBMIT button underneath…go ahead and hit that ….it will take you inside the magazine where the pictures of the dogs are…and you vote by hitting a heart icon next to the dog.

(Pip is on the first page of dog models…and the picture below is the one you should look for to vote by hitting the heart next to his photo! Thank you in advance! We are all pulling for our adorable “baby!” )

https://1.shortstack.com/MnpPN0

John bought a golf cart from a friend of his…and the kids were just too happy to try it out this past weekend!