Spring.

In Wisconsin, winters are long. We don't warm up much in between snow storms like some places. We go into deep freeze, and there can be over 5 months between 50-something degree weather. And this winter was colder than most. Last week we finally had some days that were edging up to almost 60!  Warmest it has been since last October. When we get a week of mild DRY weather, we have to jump on it. We started playing tennis again, we visited a park a day, we went kite flying, we hiked, we walked, we wandered. We swang on swingsets, our feet touching the sky. We sat in the sun listening to the birds. 

It feels good to get out and feel sunshine on our faces, breathe deeply, and walk lightly without heavy gear. Spring is a bit later this year, so nothing has been greened - yet - but it is still beautiful in its optimism. The rains came over the weekend, and we are getting some more snow (tomorrow!). But there were days we were outside, and it will tide us over until the rains work their magic and the land is green again and we can feel the grass under our feet, and the sun on our faces. 

Have you ever seen
anything
in your life
more wonderful

than the way the sun,
every evening,
relaxed and easy,
floats toward the horizon

and into the clouds or the hills,
or the rumpled sea,
and is gone--
and how it slides again

out of the blackness,
every morning,
on the other side of the world,
like a red flower

streaming upward on its heavenly oils,
say, on a morning in early summer,
at its perfect imperial distance--
and have you ever felt for anything
such wild love--
do you think there is anywhere, in any language,
a word billowing enough
for the pleasure

that fills you,
as the sun
reaches out,
as it warms you

as you stand there,
empty-handed--
or have you too
turned from this world--

or have you too
gone crazy
for power,
for things? 

~The Sun, Mary Oliver