May has arrived; go barefoot

Mayday. For many socialist countries, and in the former communist regimes, a day for labor parades and for singing the Internationale, but for me, it's the day to go barefoot outside. It was my mother's rule: No going barefoot until May 1. It didn't matter how hot it got in April. May 1 was the day to go barefoot. I can still remember being caught at age 3 or 4 breaking the rule and being sharply admonished and brought back inside.

Today, I wore sandals as I worked in the yard, but the sandals came off at the end of the day, and I was outside, barefoot, just like the old days. I'm sure Mother would approve.