The TASTE of

May

Somehow I skipped April. Here. Not in real life, but here — where you had to read the March page for two months. I’m sorry for that. Looking back, it really does seem as though I skipped April altogether. I think it was because of everything — all the planets aligning, all the chaos and calm and chaos again that was in the air. And also the arrival of spring, where somewhere in between all the work that needed to be done, there was also sunshine asking to be enjoyed (we do need that vitamin D, after all).

But it is May now. With its bright sun, clear skies, a bit of rain, and abundance in every possible way. The trees have turned from boring grey to bright green. The pollen has been quietly attacking anyone with allergies. The sun has no doubt sparked a rise in sunscreen sales. Heavy shoes have been pushed to the back of cupboards, making space for everything lighter. Suddenly, along the already packed shores of the Rhône and Saône, there are even more people — running in the mornings, creating that collective feeling of belonging to something without quite belonging at all, which somehow makes it feel even more special.

The boats next to my home on the Rhône start filling up before 5 pm, when much of the world is still working and not even thinking about going home. Here in France, people are already having their apéro — or what is also called “sex hour” (the 5–7 pm delight). One must use time as efficiently as possible.

Market days are getting harder and harder to resist, as the stalls become more abundant not just by the week, but by the day — strawberries in full season, asparagus everywhere, peas, haricots, the first tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. The herb sections at my favourite sellers are growing in generosity; that €1 rosemary bouquet from winter has doubled in size while staying at the same price (when things grow abundantly, they must be sold).

I’m writing this after the wild — and slightly wilder — full moon in Scorpio that visited us on the 1st of May. A rather intense one, touching even the toughest souls, but for good — always for good. As if, when we don’t quite get things ourselves, something gives us a small push to wake up. But I do hope it didn’t spoil your start to the month, and that somewhere in between all the thoughts and feelings, you’ve managed to travel a little, enjoy good wine and food, laugh with friends, move your body, and take in some culture too — because what is life without all of that.

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