I spilled my guts at the red light

[sovay]

My mother has been safely collected from the airport. Alas that donuts are so much harder to come by after midnight. The neighborhood is flowering extravagantly.



The ornamental cherries are busting out all over.



I encountered a sort of Janus daffodil.



It was the fine detailing on the tulip.

Discoveries of the day include the Staple Singers' "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay" (1969) which came on WERS as I drove home and the Inkling-grade worldbuilding of the Rev W. and George Awdry's The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways (1987) which I had not realized included an eleventh-century saga and island-specific saints on top of its own Gaelic language. I have inherited from my brother's godfather a bolo tie clasped with fossil fish and a pair of cufflinks with black and silver dragons. Time continues to feel permanently snapped. I can't believe it's the end of the month and somehow still spring.

Comments

[asakiyume]

Ooh, island-specific saints, you say?

The cufflinks and tie clasp sound wonderful, and what a great way to carry a person's memory with you.

That Janus daffodil is TRÈS COOL.

[sovay]

Ooh, island-specific saints, you say?

Yes! I had known about the language, but not realized the rest even though the Awdrys lay out the reasons up front:

"Railways serve towns, villages and industries, and while place names are wrapped up in geography and/or history, the siting of industry depends largely on geology. The result was that before long we found ourselves evolving a political, social and economic history of the island. To do this we have had to delve into Irish, Scots, Norwegian, Icelandic, Manx and English history besides discovering Sudric sources of our own. The work combines the activities of historical characters and events with fictitious ones in what we hope is a convincing way. There are, of course, many gaps still to be filled in spite of the extensive further research needed to complete this volume, but we have enough material for two different lectures on 'The Railways of Sodor' and another on 'Pages from Sodor History'. These lectures are always delivered seriously as befits a learned subject! I remember on one occasion inviting questions after I had given a 'Pages from Sodor History' lecture, and was asked:

"'You write books about the people and railways of Sodor, don't you?'

"'Yes,' I answered.

"'Well,' he went on, 'aren't you putting yourself in danger of being sued for libel?'"

The main saints are Luoc and Machan and the saga is of the shield-maiden Sigrid, who beat back the Normans against overwhelming odds after her husband had died in the field. I am afraid I may find these historical inventions even more endearing than the railway stories themselves.

The cufflinks and tie clasp sound wonderful, and what a great way to carry a person's memory with you.

I was honored. I will find occasions to wear them.

That Janus daffodil is TRÈS COOL.

Your icon is right on point, too!

[asakiyume]

Your icon is right on point, too! --gotta use it on the few occasions that call for it!

I am afraid I may find these historical inventions even more endearing than the railway stories themselves. --I am certainly loving what you shared!

(No railway icons or shield maiden icons, so I'm sticking with the daffodils)

[sovay]

(No railway icons or shield maiden icons, so I'm sticking with the daffodils)

They are vivid and memorable!