My Silent Spring

I know that uttering the word spring on February 18 does nothing but set up false hope, so I'm hoping that by placing the word here on my computer screen I will keep my silent spring firmly in the realm of actual hope. Although there is still quite a bite in the air and the trees stand as stark and barren as they did in January, today was the first day where I could feel the change is coming. Sometimes I think I actually like this part of the year the best. It's still cold and the snow could fly tomorrow, but there is that real promise of spring. It is the anticipation that I love the best. Perhaps it's the same reason I never minded not being in love. When you're not in love, you know you will get to fall all over again. But once all the beautiful summer days come, I find myself missing the anticipation. This time of year feels full of promise and better things to come. It's like being a four-year-old on Christmas eve but for weeks at a time. I love this time of year.

Although the change is subtle, I know I'm not alone in my anticipation. Everything was different today. The neighbors smiled a little bigger and Kira's tail wagged a little wider (to the detriment of the skaters and runners who thought they might be able to share Kira's sidewalk). People took five minutes to talk to each other, a welcome change from the bundled up, split-second exchanges people share during the months where the goal is to get from warm spot to warm spot as quickly as possible. To top it all off, as Kira and I walked through the neighborhood I saw what my scientific eye was waiting for . . . irrefutable proof that spring is coming. Under the curled up, brown leaves of last year's pansies, I saw small green shoots and leaves springing up, ready to relieve the tired winter foliage of its ugly place-holding duties. I'm not ready to yell it out quite yet, but spring is definitely rooted in the realm of hopeful possibilities. You can't argue with the pansies.

No Alarms

Today I slept in for the first time since I became unemployed. The upside is that it was nice sleeping in until 8. The downside is that I now feel unemployed. But I suppose that's not a downside as much as it's just the truth. And speaking of the truth, I'm ok with the unemployment thing. Every challenge presents opportunities, and I think that's true even in this economy. I feel like this is one of those rare moments in your adult life when the daily routine stops, changes, or gives you enough wiggle room to really think about life, love, and yes, the pursuit if happiness.

I'm appreciating the time in the morning to read the paper and not drink my coffee from a to-go cup. I'm enjoying walking the dogs in the daylight, not at 5:30 in the morning. I'm thankful for the extra time that I have to get in touch with old friends and be a better friend to those who mean the most to me. I'm especially thankful for the time that I have available to volunteer and be more involved in the community. When I do find myself gainfully employed again, I will have to make my best effort at keeping these things balanced in my life.

Now on to the serious news of the day. My cable is getting turned off today. Yes, I willingly signed up for this, but I'm still not looking forward to it. Can I be watching cable when they cut it? Awkward. In any case, it will be good to save the $50 a month and I think I stand a fighting chance of getting smarter without access to VH1 and Bravo. I will however, greatly miss my CNN and headline news. And I'm not even entertaining the thought that the cable will still be turned off when football season kicks of this fall. That's a dark place I just can't let my mind wander . . .

Inaugural post

It sounds very official, but there is nothing about today that has inspired my first post. I was waiting for some mind-blowing event that would signal the beginning of my very own blog, but various events have come and gone and I've yet to post. So here it is; today is the magic day for no reason other than I've run out of excuses.

I created this blog for some wiggle room; you know, a place to spout off and have a creative outlet. As it turns out, I have a lot of wiggle room now with my new found free time. I'm hoping to write more, stress less, wiggle lots, and focus on all things that make me tick.