To me, spring is the season of hope and new beginnings. The calendar still says winter, but as I look out my window, spring is coming to my yard. The Bradford pear trees are beginning to bloom, and daffodils are popping up in the side yard. Already the temperatures are climbing, and the hammock is now ready for an early evening of reading with a good book and happy relaxation. Last night, I spent fifteen minutes outside on the hammock, reading and enjoying the warm weather when our family’s new beagle, Linus, tried to climb on with me. He seemed rather confused at the prospect of trying to spend time with me while navigating a moving target to find a spot so I could pet him and pay attention to him.
Linus also has found a new beginning to his life with our family. Last October, my family adopted him from a pet rescue. Linus had been found on a trail without a microchip and tested positive for heartworm. The rescue gave him a chance and a vet clinic helped with the treatment. When we went through the adoption interview, he seemed to know we wanted him to come live with us. We took him home that night, and he came with a blue blanket. Since we had just watched “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and he cuddled up with his blanket, Linus seemed the right name for him. I’m happy to say his latest vet visit this past week showed a second time he’s tested heartworm negative, and he reminds me every afternoon, rain or shine, that it’s time for his daily walk. Well, walk isn’t really the right word. It’s more like a run, sniff, sniff, run, sniff until we find our way back home again.
And soon, my older son will be starting his new beginning. He’s about to graduate from high school and is already counting down the days until he begins college this fall. It seems as though he was just graduating kindergarten and now he’s about to begin new adventures, aiming for a degree in education.
But for now, spring is coming, and each member of my family has a different favorite aspect of the season. My husband loves pasta salad and the fruits of the season, so he’s looking forward to replacing nights with chili and casseroles with lighter fare. My older daughter is looking forward to getting vaccinated so she can go on a weekend trip with her friends. And the twins love Easter egg hunts.
As for me? I look forward to more evenings on the hammock, brainstorming new ideas for books that have yet to be written and reading some books that already are, before coming inside and spending time with my family and Linus. I’m also looking forward to getting vaccinated and planning an overnight trip, perhaps to the beach or the mountains.
Do you have any spring plans? What’s your favorite part of spring?