The Promise of Spring

thepromiseofspring

The other morning, I woke up after being away for several days (and coming home in the dark) and looked out my bedroom window with one eye (my head still on the pillow) and FREAKED OUT. Did it really snow again? After a minute of consciousness, I realized, no. That is not snow. It’s my cherry blossoms! Yay! This time spring is really here! Even though our sunny days are still accompanied by an unwelcome, arctic chill. Even though it seems really late to be getting started. Even though there were times we thought it would never come.

Here is what I love about this time of year: We have the most warm days ahead of us to look forward to, those between now and the end of summer—which, as some of you know, is my favorite season. My favorite times are directly ahead! Swimming! Fresh fruits! Fresh vegetables! Crickets!

Here is what I hate about this time of year: The next few months ahead seem so short. Even if a single thing is not scheduled, it feels limited, finite, over-booked. I’ve done the math, and fall and winter are exactly the same length as spring and summer…but then why do they seem so much shorter? I can understand why birds, butterflies, and people fly south for the winter!

Complaining aside, this is the time of year when so much seems possible and anticipation is palpable. Oh, the peonies! The fragrant bushes—lilac, deutzia, and that other bush whose name I can’t remember (but it’s Korean).

I got a new glider for my front porch. It’s made of recycled plastic. I actually got it for working at Rodale for a very, very long time. (It was one of those employee rewards where you get to pick a gift out of a catalog.)

Last night, even though it was frosty, the sky was amazing, and my girls and I snuggled up together with blankets and quietly glided back and forth. I didn’t ask them to come out; they just did. I didn’t ask them to sit with me (it was a bit of a tight squeeze); they just did. I didn’t ask them what they were thinking, either. But here’s what I was thinking: Yes, even warmer, better, longer, greener summer days are ahead. But this—this moment—snuggled with my girls as the spring sky turns lavender and the promise of spring lies ahead. This is perfect.

 

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5 Responses to The Promise of Spring

  1. Donna in Delaware May 5, 2014 at 9:06 am #

    Sounds positively dreamy! Those are the best times, things done together. Those are the things of remembrances and gentle smiles. That’s what life is supposed to be like, with your child(ren), and enjoying those little stolen moments in time and place. Keep doing it! Happy Spring!

  2. Nikki Lindqvist May 5, 2014 at 11:51 am #

    Lovely, lovely, lovely.

  3. Alice Green May 5, 2014 at 1:35 pm #

    My two favorite times of the year are Spring and Fall. When new beauty starts to bloom, and then when the cooler weather brings on more new beauty in the leaves changing colors. Winter is ok, I don’t hate it because I can always read, and Summer is ok, but I don’t like the heat. Seems like I was born hot! Literally speaking, not figuratively!!
    But I do come more alive is seems in Spring and Fall although, each day I wake up and look out at the Colorado Rockies, whether they are snow covered, Aspen leaf covered, or bathed in Sunlight, I am happy to be alive regardless of the Season!

  4. Yen May 5, 2014 at 5:30 pm #

    You make people dream! 🙂

  5. Yen May 5, 2014 at 5:31 pm #

    Btw i like the new mobile site, works great on my fone

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