A little bit of hope.

Over the last two weekends, we have seen a variety of carnival parades here in Galicia. In Sarria, we celebrated on Sunday, March 6 a little later than most towns locally because we had a bike race the week before. Last year the council canceled the parade altogether, and this year it was much smaller than it has been since we came here.

Carnival is as you probably know, is the last party before the lent fast. Few people fast during lent anymore, but the party goes on. Here in Galicia, the celebration is also connected to a much older Celtic festival that carries its own set of traditions. Typically, it is anarchical and riotous, with people crowding into bars and pushing and shoving to take photos. The floats are funny, political, and poke fun at the government, the church, and anyone else someone wants to take a pot shot at. There was less of that this year. We are not yet over covid and watch in despair at events in Ukraine.

But it happened! And those watching looked as I imagine a bear looks when it wakes up from its winter sleep. A bit surprised that the world exists at all. Glad to be out but finding it too cold and inhospitable to be out for long. I felt giddy as I do when I see a snowdrop or the first primroses on a muddy bank. Those tiny flowers carry on their shoulders the burden of hope for the future. A reminder that spring is around the corner and warmer weather will follow.

Next week Covid will still be here and sadly, more and more Ukrainians do not know where they will be. So now, more than most years, we need that hope, however small it might seem.

It felt good to be there. One of the nice things about Spain is that the social life takes place on the street and when it does, you are instantly a part of the community.

News flash

Mass Murder has been revised and is once again available for sale.