The word of the week was “perfect.” Everyone was just happy that the sun was shining, there was a great breeze and no humidity. It is what every person wanted.

Happy Birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Amera Mello who celebrated on June 25; Genevieve Laiacona on June 29; Emma Waltersdorf on June 30; and to Sophia Santos, who celebrates on July 1.

Everyone is getting a cold or allergies and the cough that goes along with those symptoms. I hope everyone stays safe and takes some precautions.

So, when my neighbors son Zack Waller and his seven-month old daughter Katia were here from England this past weekend, I could only look at her through my window at them because I have the cough. She has grown so big and is so happy and smiley that I had a hard time containing myself. But they will be back in September so I hope to talk to them then. Meanwhile, Pat and Steven got to spend some great quality time with them.

At Donaroma’s, I had a lady who bought some marigolds and as she was getting ready to leave, I mentioned that I loved the colors of the ones she picked out. She said yes but most of all the smell reminds her of her grandmother’s garden. So of course, that got my memories going.

The smell of gardenias takes me back to our apartment in Fall River. My mom had a beautiful plant and she babied it. But the darn thing would only produce one bloom a year. I was too young to remember how many years that went on for but she talked about it when that one bloom blossomed — and to me that one blossom was so fragrant.

There were no privet hedges growing in the area where we lived in the city so after we moved here and spring came, I could not figure out where the sweet smell was coming from. When I discovered it in one of my friends’ yards, I was so excited to see and smell the flowers. When I went back again, I could not believe that their father had cut all those great flowers off the bush to make it look beautiful. But even to this day that sweet smell takes me back to Skiff avenue.

Seeing that this is the first Fourth of July we will celebrate in full after two years, I wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday. I am sure there will be some heavy celebrations going on.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.