Y is for Yarrow--a mensch & yarrow--a flower

The yarrow is growing wild now along the path around the lake where I walk. Its delicate white flowers are my small stone for today. Hundreds of tiny white stars twinkle on each plant.

'We're part of a long train ride...'

Yarrow is also Peter Yarrow of Peter Paul & Mary, now and then. Who doesn't have a memory of this group if you've alive for at least 40 years? The trio has sung and marched for freedom, peace and understanding, not afraid to speak out against war and civil rights.

Peter wrote Puff the Magic Dragon, among many others. Since Mary Travers passed in 2009, Paul & Peter continue to make music. Visit my post here about the day Mary died and how I knew.

'As we Jews say, `let him be a mensch first; everything else will work out.' Peter Yarrow

See more Y's @ ABC Wednesday.

There's something about my daily routine in the kitchen that brings certain people to mind. For instance without fail I remember Sandy who lost her battle with cancer a few months back, when I'm chopping veg on the counter. Maybe it is because she was a true, old fashioned home ec teacher; I'm not sure but I remember her skills and kindness most vividly then. On Wednesday I was cleaning the range top and as I swiped around the area, Mary Travers from Peter, Paul, & Mary came to mind. I blissfully thought, 'Wow, she must be doing great with her leukemia in remission and all.' The next day I saw that she had passed away the same day she randomly came to my mind.

The music of that trio was a big part of my tentative move into young adulthood. I first heard them on a hi-fi at a house down the street where I babysat. When everything was quiet I would sing along to 'If I Had a Hammer' and 'Blowing in the Wind.' Later on Mary's sweet voice in 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' became my anthem as Dave and I spend a lot of time apart.

I'll never know why, but I think Mary flew by St. Paul on Wednesday as she left for a better gig.