Today is the official start of Spring and much like New Year’s, it is a time of renewal and rebirth. A time of joy and promise.
It’s true that Spring “officially” happens March 20th, but here in Minnesota, Spring is usually much more of a dream at this point in the calendar as snow more often than not blankets the landscape through much of the state. Ice fishing houses are barely off the frozen lakes before thoughts turn to shorts and t-shirts, planning summer gardens, hitting the links, and for some, turning a dirty white countryside to brilliant greens and golds.
As a child, my favorite sign of Spring was a little purple flower poking its dazzling colors through the snow. In the otherwise colorless vista, the crocus was testament to long dormant life beginning to wake under the snow and a promise that true spring wasn’t far behind.
This weekend we have had unseasonably warm weather. For most Minnesotans that means venturing out for a walk or a bike ride or a pickup game of ball without a coat. As I was out and about on my own walk yesterday, I wasn’t surprised to see many take that coatless experience to the extreme as shorts were plentiful in the playgrounds and walking paths of our community. We may be back to long pants and coats before Minnesota Spring arrives, but for now, it’s a welcome reprieve from a winter that seems to get longer each year.
The one thing that won’t change is that now that our collective psyches have been awakened from our long winter sleep, we in Minnesota have been rejuvenated. Tournaments are underway, the Twins have taken the field, spring break time is officially here and each step takes us closer to the end of hibernation and our short-lived ability to enjoy summer in Minnesota. Thoughts of mosquitos and sunburn are pushed aside as we dream of spending time in our gardens and dipping a pole in one of 10,000 lakes.
Can you feel the excitement building? Wherever you are, may your Spring be as special as the promise of a Minnesota Spring!
Be well my friends….
~BAL
Author Barbara A. Luker 