Spring

The first front flower bed bloom of Spring.

I've always been a "Fall" girl, it's still one of my favorites (the crispness, the tastes, sometimes the dampness, always the sweatshirts, decorations, and the beauty of the fall foliage).  I've loved the beauty of the past few springs though and am considering being a "Spring" AND a "Fall" girl.  (Note:  although somewhat manageable for now, I still suffer terribly from spring allergies.  Come to think of it, I do in the fall also.  I guess all the wonderful things of both seasons outweigh the yuck.)

Spring has come quite early this year.  I talked to my 80 year old uncle this morning and he said "Everything is a month early."  My 85 year old great uncle said he didn't ever remember it being this early.  Even now as I write, I can hear the distant hum of mowers all around the neighborhood.

When I went to Dad's to mow this morning I expected to see the redbud tree in bloom.  It wasn't.  I was so disappointed and even thought it was dead.  As I got closer, I noticed it wasn't dead, but had tiny green leaves everywhere.  I had just missed the blooms.  The lilacs there are blooming and even some of the irises.

What about you this spring?  Is there something "dead" in your life that you need to get closer to to notice that you've just been too busy or not close enough to notice buds, blooms, and new growth?

Have you taken the time lately to talk to an older person?  In addition to talking to these uncles today, yesterday I visited with some older ladies from church.  One is a caregiver and she was so pleased that "young people" (I didn't tell here that I'm approaching mid-life and don't exactly consider myself "young") were working in the church. The other one is 90, in a nursing home and told M & L that she hoped they lived to be 90.  I'm so glad I took the time to talk to these people.

I think most older people appreciate each bloom of Spring.