SPRING!
Are we there yet?
No, my friends, I’m not asking that annoying backseat question you’ve heard over and over during any sort of drive involving family (or from me, if it’s a ride to see the latest Marvel movie). My question pertains to something that is of far greater importance for those of us in the Northeast: Is it really spring now?
The calendar states we arrived on March 20th, yet the turning of that calendar date only served to make Old Man Winter chuckle and sprinkle a bit more of the cold, white faerie dust from his never-ending supply upon those first hopeful tendrils of green grass. Oooh, sorry Daffodils, you were so close!
Regardless, the temperature has finally registered higher on the thermometer, and we’re greeted with a different wonderful sign of renewal on a near daily basis.
The birds of summer came back to us. Robins, Goldfinches, Bluebirds, and even red-breasted grosbeaks are once again flitting through the trees, filling the air with melodies, and listening for earthworms crawling through their wormy tunnels. Of course, that latter chore was made a tad more challenging with that April snowstorm. Ever see a Robin with a tiny snow shovel, digging down to the lawn to look for a meal, all the while cursing the sky and grabbing their lower back in pain? Um, yeah, me either, just wondering, ha-ha… Okay, I’d had too much coffee that particular morning and my imagination ran a bit wild, but hey, I was feeling bad for our feathered friends who’d turned their own calendar page and decided it was time to head north. And besides, I’m a writer. It's my job to imagine things!
Anyway, where was I? Oh, right, signs of renewal. The grass has indeed turned green, and the trees have sprouted their own greenery, with the ornamental ones putting on an even grander color show with white and pink blossoms, while others sport copper and blazing yellow. Folks are happily storing away their arsenal of winter weapons and bringing out the summer maintenance implements. Gone are the snow shovels, ice scrapers and rock salt. Here come the garden hoses, lawn fertilizer, and those tiny, pointy-shovel thingies used to plant those pretty annuals.
Serious spring cleaning begins, as we hoe out unused items from our garages, basements, and attics to be redistributed to other collectors via yard sales and trips to the local treasure hut at the transfer station, adding to that growing pile of donated items. How did all this stuff build up at our place, anyway? Oh, right, from our own yard sale visits and trips to the treasure hut last year… Whoa! A Luke Skywalker coffee mug, that’s perfect for the cupboard! Oh well, at least this is new stuff, right? Right?
For those who have already accomplished this task―or who perhaps have their priorities set a tad straighter―an abundance of springtime activities calls them outside. Anglers suspend fishing rods over bridges and from boats, hoping the local fish have awakened from winter hungry for that shiny silver fish skimming along the water’s surface, the one that looks a smidge too shiny, hmmm... People are walking, jogging, cycling, shooting hoops, and employing other forms of physical exercise. Even more motorcycles are dotting the asphalt, joining those heartier bikers who couldn’t wait for the warmer climes to crank along our scenic roadways.
And love is in the air for the aforementioned aviary assortment. Frantic and romantic displays of courtship are flying everywhere, preceding the process of selecting available homes within which to lay some eggs and raise some young-uns. The varying methods by which each species selects their domiciles is just as interesting as the rituals that lead up to this selection process. All you birders could explain this better than I can, but I see you smiling and nodding behind your binoculars. Your patience has been rewarded during this magical time of year.
Ahhh, the air smells sweeter and feels wonderful. Neighbors are waving, smiling, and sharing their seasonal plans with each other. Garden center parking lots are filled with vehicles getting loaded with bags of compost, plants, and bark mulch. Even our springtime allergy reactions are a decent trade-off for getting rid of ice and snow in favor of wearing t-shirts and sandals. Everyone is smiling, planning, basking in the warmth, and rejoicing. Life is good!
***
Peeking around the massive oak tree out back, Mother Nature takes in all of these idyllic scenes and rubs her gnarled hands together, a wide grin stretching her weathered face.
“Silly humans. Spring is not for your benefit and amusement.” She rolls and cracks her neck, then casts her loving gaze into the burlap sack slung over one broad shoulder.
The sack is bulging and writhing, as if it is a living thing. Of course, she knows it’s filled with many living things, each type destined to be unleashed one-at-a-time, with some overlapping each other to wreak havoc upon this season of renewal.
“Patience, my darling black flies. You’ll get to join your tick cousins next. Yes, mosquitoes and noseeums, you’re right behind them. Careful not to wake up the deer flies yet. As soon as my solid week of rainstorms ends and I lure these people back outside with a tiny taste of sunshine, you all get to come out to play. Ahhh, I just love springtime!”
***
Thank you so much for joining me this week, folks. Now, get out there and enjoy the magic of the season…quickly.
And whatever you are, be a good one.
-Dave
