Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – May 11, 2004
Spring Comes Softly
Short Stories From 10 Years Ago – May 11, 2004 – This was the kind of morning we Canadians dream about all winter. Coats, scarves and boots are long forgotten – replaced with cotton shirts, light weight slacks and summer jackets. Almost, but not quite, time to turn on the air in my car.
Instead I opened the sun roof and luxuriated in the feeling of the sun on my skin as I drove out to the west end of the city for a client meeting. I was aware of people smiling and chatting as they walked along the sidewalks. Convertibles zipped by with the tops down – hair blowing in the wind.
City gardens are abloom with hundreds of daffodils and tulips. The buds on the city trees are slowly starting to unfold and become green. A lone rower on the lake pulled lazily at the oars on his skiff, then stopped to rest and watch a flock of birds circle overhead. Cyclists are everywhere. Spring is finally here to stay.
I’m always astonished as I drive around the city to see Nature’s return from the bleak winter landscape. One day the trees are just starting to leaf and then all of a sudden the city is green again. It surprises and delights me every spring – this rejuvenation. The spring rains wash away all traces of winter’s grit and grime and life starts over again.
Birds are busy building their nests and animals, not seen since the fall are back with us again. Spring is a very busy season. There is a lot to prepare for. It’s a time to look forward to the slower, lazy days of summer. Our warm season is so short in Canada – it must be enjoyed! I don’t think that’s written anywhere in our constitution, but it should be.
Last night about six o’clock I was parking my car in front of a client’s house when a black squirrel appeared out of laneway. He had an empty, plastic Skippy Peanut Butter jar in his mouth that was almost as big as he was. He darted across the street and ran up a tree. He paused at the first big fork and stopped a moment – probably to catch his breath and then disappeared into a hole in the trunk.
I laughed at his determination and his willingness to try new nesting ideas. His offspring will no doubt have tales to tell about being raised in a peanut butter jar. Years from now when that tree is cut down, someone from the City Works Department will say, “How on earth did an old plastic Skippy jar get into this tree”? The Skippy people might want to try a commercial on that theme!
Spring is also a great time to try new things, start projects, lighten up a little or change an out-dated attitude. Take out a pen and paper and make a list of the things that no longer work in your life and then decide to change them. Start small – Rome wasn’t build in a day. Then take the time to sit for ten minutes a day looking out your window and watching life unfold.
Wow – I just noticed that my Flowering Dogwood is in full bloom! Be aware of the greening of spring and the re-birth of your garden and your neighbourhood. You’ll be surprised at what you see and grateful for the small things in life. Remember the squirrel – who knew you could make a nest out of a peanut butter jar? It’s spring, go ahead – get creative!
