What does Springtime mean for you?

Summer is now in the air in Minnesota but I think it is still Spring I love best. Spring, the time of year when we start thinking about taking out the lawnmowers, planning vacations, worrying about taxes, planting flowers and getting outside more. The cold weather and short days are behind us and we get peeks at the eventual coming of summer. The buds have appeared on the trees; snow is gone, lent is over and green becomes the dominant color. The apple blossoms, tulips and lilacs are georgeous this year. Each Spring seems to have its own personality. Spring signifies renewal and rebirth. The cycle of life starts again with Spring.

For each of us, Spring brings a different set of meanings and a different response. Some of us will think of romance. Springtime in Paris seems magical and many of us have visions (or perhaps memories of visiting Paris in the Spring. Imagine romance, beauty, and Spring in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. For me, I start thinking of motorcycling. Between my wife and I, we have five bikes that we put away each winter. Spring is the beginning of riding season. However, first we need to do oil changes and tune-ups on each bike. Some will start easily and others will not.

If you are a gardener, no doubt you are making your rounds to the various greenhouses and flower shops. There are so many different varieties to choose from. Each has its own beauty and grace. You will have to get your soil ready and decide how much space to allocate to each and when the best time to plant is. In Minnesota, you must be careful not to plant too early. As I am writing this, we are just past a week where May saw us having more snow despite the fact we are well into spring. But what does the calendar really know about the weather. It is only a dumb piece of cardboard and paper. The real time is what I am looking at out my window today.

Then there are those who hate winter. If you fall into this category, you may be flying back from your safe nest someplace to the colder climates which are just beginning to thaw out. We call these people snowbirds in Minnesota. They fly south every winter like the ducks and geese only to return when Spring comes again. They would love Minnesota if they could leave out the five months between November and March that we call Winter.

What does Spring mean to you? When you think of the Springtime, what memories does it evoke? What do you look forward to doing most in the Spring? What hobbies, plans, dreams or desires does Spring bring for you each year? Has your concept of Spring changed over the years? What will Spring bring for you this year? You will have five more weeks of it until Summer.