Not to pat my own back, but I really like the title of this post.  It sounds like an episode of Bones or CSI. But, this is not television, and I am not a natural redhead or a brilliant forensic anthropologist.  It is the life of Tash, and if the blond boy resembles any living person, it is due to the fact that his IS a living person.  If the bonfire sounds realistic…well…by golly…it is!

May 5th is the traditional day of Hıdrellez here in Turkey.  From the information I have acquired from my highly reliable sources, (that would be the downstairs neighbors) the word Hıdrellez comes from a blending of the names of the angels (some say prophets) Hızır and İlyas.  These two angels supposedly meet up once a year, on May 5th, and on that day, whatever you wish for has the fantastic possibility of coming true.

Part of the celebration involves bonfires made by true, hard-core wish makers. They make these bonfires in neighborhoods all over the country, and after the fire is going, the wish maker has to…drumroll…JUMP over the fire.  Some say he must jump 3 times.  Some say only once is necessary. One lady told me that because she was unable to jump, that just her desire to jump was enough.  Last year, our entire family was called out to see the traditional fire.  The neighborhood boys got a little rowdy and actually burned an armchair. BUT, it was quite entertaining…especially when the pants leg of one teenager caught fire!  And, in order not to waste a good bonfire, the kids brought out hotdogs to roast.

Yesterday, being May 5th, I should have had more foresight.  My children had been outside playing for a couple of hours while I was madly cleaning and packing for our move.  My husband came home and said, “I think the kids are starting a fire.”  WHAT???  I went in search of them and what did I find? The first scene in my eyesight as I rounded the corner was…THE BLOND BOY jumping over the BONFIRE.

As you guessed…the blond boy belongs to me.

Never a day without NEW THINGS!!

Tash