As numerous as the seas of leaves in the canopy above, so have been the reasons for celebration here at the Hostel. We had St. Patrick’s Day, the vernal equinox and the full moon, a birthday and Easter Sunday all in one week. The trees outdid us all on St. Patty’s, displaying a kaleidoscope of every shade of green on earth. This Friday was time for our monthly full moon sweatlodge ceremony, and due to the overwhelming number of guests that wanted to participate, we poured two sweats, two nights in a row, both with much success for those who were involved. On Easter Sunday we had a Hostel style banquet, complete with smoothies and chocolate cake, with the help of Blythe from Philadelphia and all the other guests who are always helping out in the kitchen. One of the guests, Nick from St. Petersburg, was foolish enough to let us know that it was his birthday, so in accordance with Hostel tradition we had no choice but to chuck him in the pool. On a side note, we will be cleaning all the green pond scum and dead things out the pool from this past season of being out of use sometime in the near future as the weather warms up.

The circle of thanks on Saturday night was one of the best ever at the Hostel, in my plebeian opinion. Instead of holding hands, we made a massage circle. Thirty-eight folks got friendly and rubbed each other in all the right ways, and a few of us were lucky enough to be standing in front of some massage therapists. The gardens got in on the lovin’ action too this week as Amanda and Lima from West Virginia weeded the herb garden and planted two basil plants and some parsley and thyme. They also added tomato, cayenne pepper and jalapeño plants to the veggie garden. “Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration,” said the late artist Lou Erickson. The gardens here serve as a constant, humble reminder that you’ve got to give love where you get love. How else could we enjoy the veggie culinary creations fit for kings that we so frequently dine on?

May The Forest Be With You…