April 22, 2026- Hana was born under the sign of earth, much as her father was born under the sign of water and I, her grandfather, under the sign of fire.

I had a penchant for controlled, responsible burns, in my twenties and thirties. Earlier, I loathed arsonists for their destructive use of what I saw as a element that was cleansing, when used the right way. Fire should be controlled, with a system for extinguishing in place before the spark is even lit. My continuing connection with fire is mainly a concern with cleansing places. Clean-ups can be accomplished without burning.

Aram could while away hours playing with toy boats-in a sink, on a pond or lake. Eventually, he took his sign one step further and became a sailor. He took to swimming at age five and has never stopped. He steered a destroyer in and out of crowded harbours, around the Pacific Rim. He remains in the Navy Reserves.

Hana turned four months old today. It will be a while before we know her interests. She does look at signs, and logos on t-shirts, scanning them from right to left. She sometimes laughs at the appropriate moments, even before the rest of us are chuckling. As for any earth connection, it’s probably there. She does like sitting and watching the mother rabbit that has taken a spot in our backyard, probably getting ready to birth a litter. She also loves watching the leaves on trees being blown by the breezes (Yes, I know that’s an air sign thing.) She is dedicated to her army crawling exercises, and knows when to turn at corners and stay within boundaries. I will have a better sense of how strong her earth sign is, as the weather warms and I get her out in the yard or to the park. Will it be a passing interest, like mine with fire or abiding, like her father’s connection with water?

Happy Earth Day, everyone.