Spring

Originally Written Between 2013-2015

Ah, SPRING…..  SPRING.  Spring is a happy word, don’t you think?  Just say the word and your mouth automatically forms into a smile.  Try it:  SPRING.  See?

Well, as we all know, Spring finally sprung three days ago.  I can still see myself sitting on my couch in the living room reading the morning paper.  The radiant warm sun was shining in the window onto my face.  And, I remember that it then dawned on me that I had not seen – or felt – the sun since the day I left Puerto Rico five weeks ago.  I know.  I know.  I’m rubbing it in that I took a really long vacation and missed two or three really big snowstorms.    

We came home on the last day of winter.  We timed our trip so we could just unpack our summer clothes and hang them in the closet.  I assumed I wouldn’t have to wear a heavy sweater again until next October!   And, we all know how wrong that assumption was.

Isn’t it funny how just one day of sunny, breezy, delightful weather can make you forget the long, horrible winter?  I immediately started making up my “honey do list” for Norm.  “Hey, Norm….. wouldn’t this be the perfect day to clean out the garage?  I want to start making up a box of stuff for our church’s garage sale.”  

I’m not sure if Norm was thinking the same thing or if he just wanted to make it easier to get into his car without bumping into boxes and junk.  But, he backed the cars out of the garage and got started.  Pretty soon the back of our van was loaded with lumber, old baby car seats that our grandsons had outgrown, dried-up paint cans, cardboard, and other items that we took to the recycling center.  My goodness, that recycling center is picky…. Picky…. Picky!  We were able to get rid of some cardboard and a couple of other things but we came home with our van still full!  The nice man at the center did give us some information on other recycling places that take some of our things.  So, we’ll have to make some more trips another day.

This whole clearing-out-the-garage business got me thinking about the ritual my mother and grandmother used to do twice a year:  Spring and Fall cleaning.  And I have this “prop” that belonged to my grandma – a rug beater.  She would hang her carpets and rugs over the clothesline and literally beat the dust out.  Boy, I’m glad I don’t have to do that. 

But, as a newlywed, I used to thoroughly clean the house twice a year, too.  I’d devote one day to each room so in less-than-a week’s time, I was done.  Exhausted?   Yes…. but, done.  My home was so shiny and smelled so fresh!  I don’t think Norm ever really noticed – but, I certainly had a great feeling of accomplishment that our home was clean – through and through.  I’ve gotten a little behind in my ritual cleaning habits, however.  I’m still working on the Spring of 1992 – but I’ll get it done eventually!  Or, not.

I’ll end my little writing today with a story about how Norm and I spent what I would call “the perfect Spring day.”  We woke up yesterday (Sunday) to the bright sun shining in our windows.  Went to church and enjoyed the camaraderie with a lot of our friends.  Drove home and changed into our “going to the TWINS game clothes.” Picked up our son, John and grandson, Johan (age 6) and headed to the ball field.  John had surprised us with tickets right behind home plate!  Believe me, I’m never going to be able to sit in the nosebleed seats again!  And…. what a wonderful game.  We won, by the way, 5 to 0 (against the Texas Rangers).  The game started at 1:10 and was done by 3:30 so we had a beautiful afternoon – out in the sun – without jackets.  

After dropping off John and Johan at their home, we decided to find a restaurant that had patio seating for an early dinner.  We just didn’t want to be inside.  We ended up at the Shorewood in Fridley…… on the patio….. (little breezy, but it was a warm breeze).  Sitting outside by the Lake in 80 degrees, eating a delicious meal, and enjoying the sounds of spring reminded me of being in Puerto Rico.  It was like I never left. 

And, we topped off the evening with a visit to the local Dairy Queen.  A perfect ending to a perfect spring day!