Signs of spring

When my kids were little we read these very sweet books in the "Frog and Toad" series. Great friends, although one large, one small, they mirrored the friendships of so many young people, and not so young at that. One book had the two friends looking for signs for spring. They had such fun finding flowers that had come out of hiding, birds that returned and had chirping young, and especially the warm breezes returning.

Today I went to one of the parks near my place just to walk, call my mom, and see the geese. I was surprised and amazed at the "signs of spring"! Although not completely a warm day--high 60's--the park was practically teeming with signs of spring. Skateboarders going on in and out of bikes, just waiting for the inevitably injury. Moms teaching little girls how to throw a frisbee. A recipe for disaster, don't you think? Dogs retrieving sticks from the river and doing that wonderful physics shake that drowns everyone with some who laugh and some who are not laughing. The volleyball net that never makes up quite right, but provides a lot of laughter and friendly competition. Well, maybe not all that friendly. And the wonderful plastic play structure with slides, tubes, swings, monkey bars, and the inevitable scratch or two. Bandaids are a must amidst in all the fun.

I love the daffodils, the young geese, and all the young humans in strollers. I enjoy the little toddler girls with their hair banded on top in styles that later they will simply kill their parents for ever doing and showing them to their boyfriend or fiance.

Yes, signs of spring. People out in their yards sharing horror stories about gophers and weeds. Young people playing sidewalk hopscotch, roller blading, and maybe some things the young adults are doing that we might now want to know--hopefully this experimentation will teach a good lesson. We did some of the same things and look at how we turned out. Well, that may not always be comforting but I think for most of you reading this, it is.

I hope you are a sign of spring as well--someone growing anew, warm, friendship, and sunshiney to those you meet.

JD (JoAnn)