In Just Spring, New Life

Ah, spring. e e cummings best described my favorite season as, "... mud luscious (and) puddle wonderful ..."

Emergence and warmth, color and sound return after the doldrums of ice and forest silence. When winds that herald rains and the smell of earth suffuses my backyard, my gardening fingers get itchy and visions of flower beds dance in my head. Morning birds help remind me that rising early--rising at all--is a blessing that I should never take for granted. Sunlight feels like a delightful heated cloak, even when the breeze still chills a bit.

Forsythia, hyacinth, crocus, daffodils and magnolias ... Honey, you know it's time to put down that TV remote and join eddieandbill in a game of marbles.

It's spring. Time to walk the dog just a little farther. Yes, and enjoy washing the car yourself and not at the carwash. And better set out the humming bird feeder and await their return. Don't forget to tidy up the remnants of dead leaves and windblown refuse that was once buried by winter snows. Renewal, renewal.

Spring brings new life. Like a grandson. And a granddaughter. And new joys that come with another generation with which to share small things: The growing of flowers, tree leaves, the multi-colored marvel of a butterfly wing ... the sheer happiness of life, itself.

It's spring. Run along with bettyandisbel and play hop-scotch and jump rope. Be glad for the end of cold and look forward. The summer is nearer and we will continue to cast off heavy clothing, strap on our sandals, and worship long days replete with bar-b-queues, picnics, fresh fruit, and fireflies.

I love spring. Why I can almost hear that little goat-footed baloonMan whistling far and wee.