Starting a New Life
“I’ve been shoveling the snow away/Working hard for my pay/Ooo-we and we’re starting a new life”—Van Morrison
Here we are, moving our clocks forward again. It will still be light outside as we sit down to eat dinner this evening. It's been a while. And yet, it also doesn't feel exceptionally long since we shifted to “winter” time.
And what a beautiful winter it has been in the northeast--very cold and lots of snow. March is fickle (as is April, in these parts), but the well cap in my backyard that sits about a foot and a half off the ground became partially visible a few days ago. A few above-freezing days have led to some snow melting. It's slow, but it will continue and we will see the earth again.
As the ground thaws, my vision expands. I am beginning to think about travel plans. I look, dreamily, at photos of daffodils sent by friends in warmer parts of the country. I put away the last bit of winter decor indoors and set out spring scenes I have painted in the past. One must be hopeful despite bulbs not blooming here for many weeks yet.
There is an optimism that emerges in my psyche this time of year. I am, by nature, an optimistic person, but there is something about no longer having to bundle up against the cold, no longer finding myself tensing against brutal wind, and suddenly being able to just walk outside with ease. It's as though anything feels possible.
I've put my snowshoes and skis away. I find myself musing about riding my bike. I gaze at my screened porch and smile. There will be gardening and there will be kayaking and there will be Gin drinks on the porch. It's all a little way off, but it feels OK to daydream about warmth and an easier life now. We have moved our clocks forward, such a hopeful act. About a week from now, I will fly to the Gulf Coast of Florida for a week at the beach. When I return to Vermont, it will still be March, with snow on the ground, but there will be way less of that white stuff (which brought me so much joy this winter but feels old now) and perhaps some purple crocuses pushing up in the yard. Oh, what a sight they will be!
It is cold and grey this morning, but I have a bounce in my step, nonetheless. Reading the news is as grim an endeavor as it has been for some time, but I will dig in a bit less deeply this morning (not a full-on news break, but a bit less time spent reading columns) and go for a long walk. Yes, soon, we will be starting a new life.
A bounce in one’s step—what a novel idea
You're right! Yes, push ahead those clocks and snow, cut some forsythia to force. I'll do it now. No! No bulbs yet. But in a few weeks I will have blooms. Be sure to post warm photos so we can all lie in the sun with you.