Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Of Spring and Things...

I’ve been mulling over what I was going to write about today and I came to one conclusion: not Charlie Sheen.

Haven’t we all seen enough of this most public of implosions? I, for one, continue to wonder where his parents, siblings, friends, and yes, even exes, are in this mix. Can’t someone forcibly commit this man if not for his own well being then for the sake of his five children? The whole thing is really sickening.

Rant over.

Let’s focus on the positive. For one thing, spring is on the way to the East Coast. Yes, the weather people say that we may get a big dump of snow on Thursday, but the best thing about March storms is that if they come, they are over quickly and the snow melts within days, if not hours. After having a snow drift on our front lawn that was close to five feet high, we can now see our grass. It’s a little worse for wear, but it can be saved with a little grass seed and a little love. The next thing we’ll look forward to is seeing buds on the trees which will signal that the winter of 2010-2011 is a thing of the past.

With spring comes one of my favorite traditions in the village in which I live: the outdoor farmer’s market. Of course, we do have indoor markets but they just don’t feel the way an outdoor market feels. In a few short weeks, within walking distance of my house, I will have fresh vegetables, pies, breads, cakes, and quiches available to me, all made by local growers and producers, all within a fifty-mile radius of my house. Sometimes, a local vineyard will come and sell wine which makes the farmer’s market a one-stop shopping expedition for this vegetable lover and oenophile.

Another wonderful spring tradition is Little League. Child #2 is still of an age where he can play on the “Majors,” which is essentially a group of boys (and some girls) between the ages of 9 and 12. The “Majors” have their games on the field smack dab in the middle of town, complete with bleachers and lights—when they’re working—to illuminate the field when the sun has set on an early spring night. We can walk through town and get pizza on the way home and if we’re feeling virtuous about our exercise for that day, ice cream. Sitting in the outfield for our last year of Majors is bittersweet and I’m going to savor every yawn-inducing game just so I never forget the sight of my son in permanently stained, formerly white baseball pants, his hat cocked to the side, trying to catch mosquitoes in the outfield.

We also have a new season of Mets’ baseball to look forward to, but if history has shown us anything, it’s that we should gird our loins for disappointment.

As a writer who works from home—but not in her pajamas as some often assume—I spend a lot of time indoors. Seasonal affective disorder is always around the corner on a dreary day and I think most of us who work from home have a nodding acquaintance with it. So, to see the sun at hours it hasn’t been seen in the past few months is a mood elevator better than any drug and to think of fresh peaches, wine from the Hudson Valley, and Little League baseball at just days away, I, for one, have quite a spring in my step. Pun intended.

What do you look forward to come spring, Stiletto faithful?

Maggie Barbieri

8 comments:

  1. - Open windows letting the fresh air in.

    - Baseball

    - Walking on the boardwalk

    - Wearing light jackets

    - Farmer's market

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  2. Definitely love going to the local farmer's market, walking the nature trails or beaches, baseball spring training, outdoor concerts. I know what you mean about seeing the weather changes while working at home looking out the windows.

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  3. Ugh sorry about that. Computer with a sense of humor decided to get cyberhiccups.

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  4. What do I like about Charlie Sheen? Um, not a damned thing. Oh, wait, what do I like about SPRING! ;-) Almost everything, including the storms (although no tornadoes, please). I'm going to have to work on the grass seed, too, Maggie. We seem to have "grown" a lot of brown muddy spots over the winter. How does that happen?

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  5. I love the baby animals, which I've already seen a few of, and our crocuses coming up to bloom in spots all over our yard. And, I've already seen a few of those old sturdy-petaled friends, too!

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  6. Lots and lots of new calves with their mamas all over the hillsides. We've got trees a-blooming everywhere and the wildflowers are popping out. Today it's sunny and warm.

    Marilyn

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  7. Just getting out of this dreadful house!!!! Especially the men getting of this house. They drive me CRAZY!! LOL

    What I really love most of all is my garden. I love getting out there in it. I do everything from breaking my garden, to planting my seeds and plants, to tilling and deweeding it, to harvesting it all.

    Also a good excuse not to clean house, "I had to be outside today because it was sooo beautiful", LOL.

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  8. Oh, and how about longer daylight hours! Nothing like not getting up and going to work in the dark only to see the sunlight disappear again by 4p! Yes, winter has lots of good points, but man, it's great to have longer days to spend. Feels like more actual living gets into the day.

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