Springing into Summer

I went for a walk last weekend, between the rain storms and despite the intermittent cold weather.  On my journey down the block I realized that spring is slowly showing itself among the bushes and the trees.  Little flowers have sprung up from the ground and leaves are slowly budding on the tree branches.  May has been laden with rainy storms and the budding flowers are its pleasant result.  For me, and probably most people, spring is not just flowers and the start of warm weather.  It is the beginning of the pollen producing season and its partner in crime ragweed.  The sounds of sneezing and coughing resound through open windows.  For me, it’s the pressure that is felt in my head that reminds me that these unwelcome friends have come to visit.  August is actually my worst month, which is when the humidity makes the wind stand still. All manner of Mother Nature’s bag of tricks come out to wreak their havoc on unsuspecting people enjoying the warm weather after a bitterly cold winter.

The interesting phenomenon about spring is that it wakes people up to the clutter in their house.  The phrase, “Spring Cleaning” was certainly invented by those who answer that wake up call.  There definitely has to be something said about this season’s transition that brings a happy feeling once the spring cleaning has commenced.  The sense of order that is accomplished with the attention to every room’s detail makes you feel as if you are ready to take on the season.  Retail stores and magazines start to sell the ideas of summer.  The products on the shelves and on the page are littered with the summer verbs: Grilling, camping, beachcombing, biking, hiking, car cruising, and walking. 

Memorial Day weekend is definitely the start of these summer ideals.  To me it says, marching bands in parades, American flags, hotdogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob, barbecue chicken, bags of potato chips, and kids running around playing in the grass.  It is such a nice reprieve from the work week, to enjoy the comforts of the warm weather and the activities we have been dreaming about all winter long.  The wind whipping into my window, sun shining, and birds chirping call to me and I always answer with a good book, a delicious summer drink, and flip flops on my feet.

Sarah Jenkins