Spring Dreams

 

Officially, spring has been here for weeks and the weather has been erratic.  I suppose that’s what spring is.  We’ve had glorious days, some nearing eighty, and then the following days in the fifties.  This week’s temperatures are forecasted to be cooler than normal, including a couple of chances of frost and one chance of a freeze.  But I am beyond anxious to get on with it, anxious to move plants outside and create some space. 

 I’ve always loved the optimism of spring and my gardening dreams.  Yesterday I had my camera out to take a photo for our granddaughter of the woodpecker who’s been frequenting our birdfeeder.  With so many things in bloom facing the danger of frost this week, I continued to walk and take photos of what’s growing now.  There’s a lot of hope growing here.

 And then of course, the world’s hope is growing too.  While we are yet to have an entire family gathering, we spent Easter afternoon with one of our son’s family.  It was one of the glorious weather days here and we were able to sit outside and bask in it.  Some of us are fully vaccinated, and the rest, (Paul and I included) are waiting on our second dose.  But as it turned out, we did not remain untouched.  Five days after returning to school from spring break, two of our grandchildren tested COVID positive.  We were incredibly lucky; one only had mild symptoms and the other asymptomatic.  And no one else contracted it. 

 I was walking with my daughter and her family the other day.  As we chatted about things they’ve been up to, I realized just how different our lives are.  As a result of the pandemic it’s become normal that Paul and I, at the most, only use the car once a week.  But often it can stretch to nearly two.  I can’t help but wonder if we have become recluses. Also, I wonder how hard will it be to join the world in full again.  Thinking farther, I can honestly say, we aren’t bored.  We apparently are pretty good at keeping ourselves occupied.  That being said, I have found much to keep me busy.  Gardening dreams, and as always, knitting included.  It would also somewhat embarrasses me to say how much time I have spent watching the Derek Chauvin murder trial.  It’s been riveting. 

 I have been drawing and painting a lot to reach my goal to complete something every week.  I’ve also enjoyed several online art lessons.  I’m lucky to have a daughter who is a high school art teacher who can give me much appreciated constructive criticism.  I’ve been posting my efforts on Instagram and Facebook. 

 And I am currently reading my fourth Hemingway book, an equal mix of biographies and his works.  Hemingway was such a favorite of my dad’s I've always found him interesting but oddly had never read him.  I’ve watched all of the wonderful online PBS conversations with Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and others, in advance of their PBS film.  By the time the film aired, I felt I already had seen a good portion of it from the clips.  But of course, as it turned out, there was so much more.  I can certainly see how he would have been a hero to my dad growing up; “war hero”, an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, not to mention his writing.  But the film reveals so much more. I can’t help wonder what my dad would think.  It’s one of the many discussions I wish my dad was still here to share in.

 Looking forward, I know we'll keep busy.  But I also hope to acknowledge and take it all one day at a time and fully appreciate the season.  And I hope all of your spring hopes and dreams come true too.