So This is Spring

And here comes May. Flowers are blooming, rain is becoming more absent in all cities but this rained-in community of sun-glass buying confused consumerists. We don't make a big deal about it any more, but today is May first, the day we leave flowers on our friends' doorsteps. You grab your things, your money for flowers which you only spent on movies during dreary April, and you head out the door to welcome spring with your loving May Day thing. But then the sky turns darkandBOOM! Something happens toward the city and the flowers that have already made their way to your doorstep begin to wilt with anti-May anxiety. You are in Berlin, you soon realize, and the May Day riots have begun yet again.

This year, four adolescent rioters are being taken into custody after authorities saw what they believe were attempted murders of police officers. Naturally, the anarchist youth threw flammable liquids on the dark-blue men and tried to set them alit. Your flowers are now brown.





Petrol-filled explosives are flying at the police officers as the 5,800 rioters try to pull the loose strings at the ends of the city's structure. Over a hundred are being injured, 50 of which are being sent to the hospital, and as as you hear the sirens surrounding you, your porch gifted flowers tuck themselves safely under their dirt foundation. And it reminds you of when your daughter has a bad dream and hides herself under her blankets.

Your daughter! She's just seven and you're worried about what these anarchists, these emerging near neo-nazis might do to her influence, how she can possibly grow around them. Ah, but you (and she) are safe. You leap from your cable reality and come to the soft rain tapping on your window. The news has gobbled you up once again - it's time to shut it off. You send a thought to Germany, to the confused and raged youth groups, to the police and their families, and to the parents of these disgruntled teens for as a parent you know well what they feel. To Seattle's flower shops with your daughter's hand in yours. No NPR on the stereo today. You grab your keys and exit, tunes for your car, off to buy flowers for the doorsteps of your loved ones. And here comes May.