After the procession through town we’re back to a more domestic situation with the shrine just behind Holy Redeemer church. The flowers are placed like any basket of natura morte for painters, the ol’ last ditch effort at beauty before all goes the way of all flesh, that is, including us, kind of like a lit candle giving its all. It’s on its way out, trying its best. It might last just a bit longer still planted for flowers, still hanging on a tree for fruit, still unlit for candles, but the defiance of death to demonstrate love stronger than death is most attractive. No use playing politics, thinking we’re saving ourselves. For what? Better to let the beauty and light of Mary’s Son radiate so as to help each other be on our way to heaven with a love stronger than death, a flower for Jesus’ good mom, the Immaculate Conception.