Author Archives: Alan Ilagan

A spring-time trip to Connecticut to see Missy and her family provided the perfect weekend away to celebrate the arrival of the season – and nowhere was that more evident in this magnificent weeping cherry tree in front of their home. Fully decked out in its pale pink blooms, it glowed gorgeously as I drove into the driveway. Petals fluttered down in the breeze, and an idyllic weekend was pre-ordained by destiny. 

Andy texted me that our own cherry tree was finally breaking its buds and unfurling its pink blossoms – deeper of color and fuller of form thanks to its hybridized enhancement. That meant I could extend this cherry-popping season a bit longer when I returned home. For now, it was a weekend in Connecticut with an old friend. 

Does beauty augment and enhance a meeting of dear friends? Of course it does, and the weekend provided this gorgeousness to mirror the joy of a reunion. Along with Missy’s family, we set about to plan out the coming summer months…

May is my favorite month in the calendar year, which goes against all those ego-pointers, because my birth month is August. May is superior because it holds in it all the hope of a spring and summer about to unfurl in all their splendor. Even if summer turns out to be a somber dud, as some summers do, in May it still holds the possibility of being perfect. May is wonderful that way. Let’s take a moment to look back at a few May starters of the more recent past. 

Last year it seems May 1 was a day for recapping the previous week, which means hints of April made their way into this post after all.

May 1, 2022 found this haunting post going up, which was much too serious and somber for this month. 

May 1, 2021 found me kicking off Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage month in another rather serious post. 

Well, discovering this third-somber-entry-in-a-row from 2020 seems to indicate I don’t know what I’m even saying regarding this month… though that may be the after-effects of COVID hitting. 

The pre-COVID May 1st post from 2019 found me immersed in a bit of retail therapy, so happiness certainly was present then.

May was all about hope, and it still is. Enjoy this day, and this month. 

Lean in closer while I whisper another little hint of our upcoming summer theme.

{Psst… … !… ?… … ….mmm,hmm… oh yes very much… !… very certainly … and you cannot wait…}

It’s the aesthetic – it’s the atmosphere – it’s the setting for all possibility.

Dream a little dream of summer – it’s coming…

This April felt more like March, but perhaps the temperatures are rebounding. Let’s hold that thought as we recap the last week, the way we do it on most Mondays. 

Prelude to a spring weekend.

A princely purple weekend begins.

Friends old and new, tried and true.

It’s the ‘or’ that means more than it did before.

Purple echoes.

Somewhere in the realm of the pink.

A gratuitous David Beckham post.

Madonna & boudoir.

Current and perpetual mood.

A broken vase is better than a broken heart.

Dazzlers of the Day included Maulik Pancholy, Susan Brumley and Vanessa Williams.