March Forth – Lockton Lane

For almost 40 years March has become a month 

where many of the days have special memories for me. 

There is, of course, our wedding anniversary, but for many years 

this became the occasion for Mel to remind me, because of my regular teaching duties, regional and state academic contests, and tennis coaching, 

that she would look forward to talking with me again in June. 

But there was also that March 3rd when we were both 40 and our son was born. 

It was an early spring that year,

 and the flowering trees were already in bloom outside the hospital. 

I felt like I was visited by angels and prayed to God that he would let me live to 80 

so I could ask my son if life ever felt so blessed. 

I also think on my daughter’s March wedding anniversary 

how quickly time passes. 

On her wedding day it seemed like only a yesterday since our own wedding.

This year the world is looking back to the beginning of the global pandemic

on March 13th, 2020. 

And March 10th, 2020 was the beginning of my personal great healing,

my last day of cancer treatments.

There’s also a string of days from March 14th to 17th that I celebrate. 

3/14 is Pi Day and I celebrate not only an infinite string of random digits 

but also things both mathematical and nonsensical. 

3/15 is the Ides of March and I look forward to remembering 

both the fate of Caesar and William Shakespeare. 

3/16 is my own holiday of God-so-loved-the-world 

and I’m grateful for John’s Gospel.

3/17 is St. Patrick’s Day, and our family celebrates our Celtic heritage 

and connections with kings and saints. 

Finally I’m celebrating anniversary 

of the great San Francisco Peace March which was on 3/4/67. 

It was the day when I committed to nonviolence

and would not participate in the War in Vietnam. 

I remember marching across the City to help fill Kezar Stadium,

marching forth for peace on March 4th as the posters proclaimed. 

Yet it was only a small effort in seeking the peace that all of us still hope for. 

May peace be with you as you March 4th. 

Of course March is always Lent, but how can I keep from singing?