A Spring In My Step

Okay, so I know I waxed poetic about the snow, and I know that I grumble all summer long about how blasted hot it is, but I just want to say: hallelujah, it’s SPRING!! Can I get an amen?

Seriously, this has been the longest, coldest, darkest winter ever recorded in the history of all of mankind (as scientifically determined by me freezing my tushie off for the past four months), and I have never been more excited to see a blooming goldenrod bush in my entire life.

Tada!

This weekend, we were even able to crank open the windows and wear short sleeves. I feel enlivened. I feel invigorated. I feel…stuffed up. Whatever – I’ll take a little sinus hassle if it means frolicking through the backyard with naught but a sundress on. I’ll suffer the neti pot for the decadence of enjoying our first boat cruise of the year. (Although, really, I think that medieval torture device should have stayed in the dark ages where it belongs. I use it, but it is so wrong.)

But best of all about the coming spring? How much it inspires me. With the return of light in the evenings and a warm breeze through my house, I am invigorated with all the possibilities. I want to clean, to check things off my to-do list, and—best of all—I want to write. What is it about the spring air that absolutely begs for a happily ever after?

Today, in a rare act of self-indulgence, I snuck out and saw a movie all by myself (a love story -purely for research, of course!). When it let out a little after six, I stopped for an ice cream cone and wandered around the charming little plaza amidst the stores and restaurants, nodding to the shop workers and passerbys alike. Before long, a sun-drenched bench beckoned, and I sat alone in the waning sunshine, watching four young siblings play Simon Says on the turf ahead of me. As I lapped at the last vestiges of creamy, strawberry goodness, I smiled at the memory of the games of Red Rover, Red Rover, dodgeball, and Red Light, Green Light a thousand years ago, when I was that young.

Those sweet memories led to others: flying a kite on a brisk Kentucky spring day, lying back on the soft bluegrass and watching the swiftly moving, diaphanous clouds morph rapidly from an elephant, to a peanut, to a hot air balloon against a brilliant blue backdrop. We even had a real hot air balloon land in our yard once, like a colorful, graceful jellyfish floating down from the heavens. I was slightly older then, around 11 or 12, but still young enough to feel the rush of delight at such a wondrous thing. Even now, every time I see one in the sky, a brightly colored dot hanging against an endless blue canvas, I think of that day and smile.

Spring has always brought light, and warmth, and color, and life. As I breath in the new season, that indefinable taste of happiness, an odd sense of hope washes over me. Hopeful for good news with my writing, hopeful for a finished kitchen, hopeful that the coming pollen won’t lead to more neti pot use ;)

What are some of your favorite springtime memories? Have you been enjoying the same beautiful weather as we’ve been blessed with here? And if any of you are spring-cleaning…can you come over here and help me?? :)

Cabinets are scheduled to be installed starting today – hooray! Another two weeks for the countertops, but the hardwoods are nearly completed and the entertainment center is taking shape! It won’t be long now until everything’s done and I can post pics!