Spring

2023-04-14

---

Spring has officially arrived in the American Midwest, with all the budding flowers, thunderstorms, picnic days, and hay fevers that mark the season.

When I was a child, my favorite season of the year was autumn. Autumn meant the start of the school year, which I greatly enjoyed. The season was packed with celebrations, from Labor Day to Veteran's Day, including many religious feast days observed by the Catholic school I attended. The excitement of the Christmas season was close at hand, and in the meantime, holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving satiated my appetite for rich roasts and cheap candy.

I grew up in a traditionalist small town, and we had large community events to celebrate every holiday in the latter half of the year. Almost every month had a major festival or gathering from Independence Day to Christmas Day. The city was also full of maple trees, and a town festival was held every year just as the maple leaves turned brilliant red--a festival that featured a full parade and city-wide events in the central square.

In my teenage years, I moved from a small town to a suburb of a large metropolis. Gone was the hometown mentality of community events uniting the entire city--now festivities were limited to community centers, or maybe a few neighborhoods at most.

It was then that my favorite season changed from autumn to spring. Spring meant the end of the school year, which by that point had become quite stressful for me. My birthday, and coincidentally the birthdays of many of my family and friends, are in spring. The excitement of summer vacations and daytime get-togethers with my friends.

I suffer from quite a few allergies, but I still love visiting parks and trails. Spring marks new life in these places: trees bud, flowers bloom, and the air is filled with sweet scents. And of course, I finally get to shed my winter clothes--and with luck, some winter weight too.

My wife has been suffering acute allergic issues this week. As a result, I've had to keep the windows closed in both the house and the car. When I can, though, I slip out for some time on my bicycle or even a simple walk around the neighborhood. I can't let my favorite season pass me by.

---

Up One Level

Home

[Last updated: 2023-04-14]