Saturday, February 26, 2011

Is Spring Around the Corner?

Do you remember summer break from school when you were 10?

Laying in the grass in the backyard or a nearby neighborhood park.  Eyes half closed watching the shadows of the leaves moving with the breeze on the backs of your eyelids.  Seeing the speckled leaves and sky dancing above you.  The sun hitting you to warm your skin, this wonderful feeling of "just enough" sun.  Perfect after the long chill of winter.  Your body finally soaking in the warmth, knowing the cold will be gone for awhile.  The breeze coming through to keep you cooled.


The only sounds are rustling leaves, the lawn mower a block over and the airplane droning by 23,000 feet above.

The air is filled with the smell of cut grass and newly planted flowers in freshly tilled earth.  The concrete adding a touch of warming rock like desert hardpan.


Those were the days that everything added up in a subtle reminder that Spring was here.  Everything was waking up and saying that life was perfect.

I would have those same moments of realization in the house.  Mom had opened the windows and doors.  Some slight breeze would fluff the lace curtains.  The smell of burning incense would strengthen a little as it wafted about.  It only took the sound of that distant plane to put that last piece of the puzzle together.

To this day, when the first days of the new year begin to feel warm, without any chill, I have an urge to put the hammock up in the backyard, under the Golden Rain tree.  Feel the sun warm me to the depths of my bones, listen to the branches, look at the perfect, blue sky.  And wait for the sound of that passing plane to tell me spring is on its way.


Sit back.  Close your eyes.  Remember the feel and smells of your perfect childhood day.

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere...  it's coming...  I can feel it right around the corner...

17 comments:

  1. Lori:

    now you've got us envious. You mean, it's that warm right now where you are ?

    We hardly get any snow and right now it's been snowing all day. I wish we could send some to you

    bob
    bobskoot: wet coast scootin

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  2. Hi Bob!

    Nice try! We've had our fair share of the snow this season! And yes, it is that warm. Tomorrow should be in the high 70's!

    You were riding while I got snow. Turn around is fair play! ;)

    But yours will be over soon, giving you some great riding weather. :)

    -Lori

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  3. Nice post Lori, well written, I could see the plane, hear the mower, and smell the grass even from here.

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  4. Great post! Def makes me believe spring will return!

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  5. Yep, I remember those days. Now, it is a far distant thought so far from reality. Today, it is clear and cold and I guess that it is something like 110°F colder here than in Atlanta. It's still a long way 'till Spring.

    Don't get too much sun...

    Richard

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  6. Ahh. We call that "the plane of summer." It's only one plane, we're sure of it, specially outfitted to announce the season appropriately. :)

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  7. Thanks for taking us back. Very well written! And, I like the new header pic.

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  8. Raftnn...I hate to point out the obvious, but you could see, hear and smell that because you are living in summerland! ;) But thank you for boosting my ego. LOL.

    -Lori

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  9. Hi Bluekat!

    Thank You! Never fear! Spring and summer will come! It's starting to creep north.

    -Lori

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  10. Hi RichardM!

    Your turn will come. But I think you need to investigate that sidecar and start doing some winter riding. You would take some great images and have us all jealous that we couldn't do that!

    The windows are open and the breeze is blowing. :)

    -Lori

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  11. Hi David!

    Ah...now I have a name for it. The Plane of Summer! Perfect. I haven't heard it yet...have you?

    -Lori

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  12. Hi Jonesy!

    Thank You! Are your mountain roads clear yet? Took that picture yesterday on a backroads jaunt. "Worlds Smallest Gas Station". hehe

    -Lori

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  13. HI Nikos! Are you saying bobskoot has nice legs? hehehe :)

    Thank You!!

    -Lori

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  14. Dear Steel Cupcake:

    I have no idea whose legs these belong to, but they have tiny feet. The foot on the end of this left leg looks like it came from a squirrel. My guess is that it is the size of a US dime. How a person with feet ths tiny could stand up in a strong breeze, I can't imagine.

    And please accept my apology on behalf of the biker/readers who felt compelled to draw some childish reference to the perfect coloring and muscle tone of Mr. Oilburner's legs.

    Late again to the party,
    Riepe/Twisted Roads
    The Blog That Tells A Good Fucking Story

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  15. Dear Riepe,

    Again, not late. As long as you bring wine you can show up anytime. :)

    No comment on the leg on the right that didn't even have an attached foot? And the left foot was attached directly at the knee??

    At least from this angle you don't see the elephant knees or cottage cheese thighs. Other than the pale, sickly white color.

    Mr. Oilburners legs indeed!! LOL!!!

    -Steel Cupcake/Lori

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