spring into action

tristan has been rather determined to stick these halloween window stickers up lately, much to my despair. even though it's cold, gray, and sometimes snowy these days, we are not in the dying season! 

spring equinox snuck up on me. i had no special rituals, crafts, or recipes lined up. while the sun was out, there was a cold chill i couldn't seem to toss aside. there was no spring to my step today. it might as well have been the onset of winter, such was my icy state of mind. but when we were listening to music and tristan asked me to dance, i felt the thaw begin.

and then we went outside seeking signs of spring. . .

 

when you are at the edges of a new terrain you sometimes have to leap forward before you can fully appreciate the fresh view. gazing through the windows at the crocuses and daffodils struggling against the cold. watching the blue jays swoop by while the deer graze. opening the door so the cats can go in and out and in and out. noticing through the car window that the apple blossoms have arrived and that the trees are beginning to green with buds. this is not enough. it is like sitting at the edge of the pool dipping your feet in while every one else is soaked and splashing.

when tristan and i finally burst through the doors and felt the sun against our skin, i remembered something about myself. direct contact with warm sun chases away my icy moods. when he handed me a crocus and insisted we collect a bouquet of daffodils, i was reminded that children are miraculous and temporary, like flowers. and when we both returned to the indoors, ready to move on to the next part of our day without so much friction and fuss, i remembered that time spent in nature is as important as lunch.

so while i didn't meet spring with ritual and intention, it met me.

happy days of spring awakening!