Earning My Spring

My first real experience with an actual Winter was the season of 1989-1990, when I spent my first year outside of California, living in Nashville, Tennessee.  There was ice and measurable snow and, for the first time in my life, owning a wool coat was actually a good idea.  I enjoyed the cold and especially welcomed the arrival of Spring, which began in late February when the sunny, yellow daffodils began to emerge.  That Spring, I felt like I had actually earned the blooms, the green, and the glorious warmth.

Fast-forward to more than 25 years later and I am in the midst of a daily bargain with Winter whereby I put up with day after day of unusual cold for the pleasure of Spring.  Unlike Tennessee, Spring will arrive more toward the end of March around here.  But that’s a little hard to believe on a day like today, which began with temperatures hovering around 0.  The forecast calls for snow tonight, which will bring a temporary warm up —— highs in the low 30s before another plunge into the cold.  As I wrap my scarf around my neck and pull on a hat, coat, and mittens just to go outside to take out the trash, I remind myself that Spring will eventually arrive.  This year, I really will have earned it.