Hey, hey, it’s May and May Day. So, what do you say? I say hey! Let’s talk about the May birthstone. And in case you didn’t already know, it’s the beautiful emerald. Emerald for a May birthstone makes sense when you learn more about it. Because the emerald is considered a symbol of rebirth. And superstitious people believe it has the power to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. Side note: Elizabeth Taylor owned an emerald pendant that sold for $6.5 million in 2011. So, it apparently was quite the specimen. But Liz still got old and died. Weird, right? Anyway… Let’s get back to more practical reasons why an emerald makes a great May birthstone. First, I read how the word emerald comes from the Greek word “smaragdus.” And that translates into green. So, it makes sense that a green gem would be appropriate for the time of year when everything blooms and leaves turn to green. And second, a polished emerald sparkles like dew on a verdant grass lawn. And while I’m waxing poetic, a couple of years ago I wrote this rhyme that fits nicely into this time of year: Emerald Embrace I sat upon an emerald. The green glow glazed my eyes. And I beheld the art of God, His brushstrokes in the skies. The neon shone through bright chartreuse, And pine and malachite, And all the way into my heart That still and liquid night. I know, for God, the painting was A glimpse of what will be, In Heaven’s emerald embrace, With Him eternally.   © 2022 So, Happy May to you. And Happy May birthday. Oh, and if your kid’s birthday is this month, you should get them the Kiddin’ Around collection of songs. I don’t recall any references to emeralds. But one of the songs is called “Green Monkey.” The color green comes up quite a bit in the lyrics, and it’s a fun, springy tune. See and listen to a video demo of the songs in the collection here: (https://youtu.be/dTZTtsyZQdk) And download all 10 songs for $10 at this link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=L6MAH2QKHU5J8 Stay tuned,