Hope Springs Eternal

Its eight degrees with several inches of snow on the ground, the ground is frozen solid, as hard a concrete. Yet all the stores have their spring supplies out and in full bloom. Several stores I visited this past weekend were adorn with all manner of outdoor accoutrements, such as picnic tables, rakes, mulch and the like. There was even a spotting of a kayak! Its bright blue color an unmistakable sign of things to come. At the grocery store its pastel everywhere, with plastic eggs, fake grass, baskets and the obligatory Easter candy plentifully represented in the seasonal goods isle. Early, forced, tulips were to be found and bulbs, for those really thinking ahead, were out on display in several stores. Normally, I am opposed to such a display of seasonally misaligned wares, but not this time. My cabin fever has become a raging flu and I am ready for warm sunshine, long days and soft green grass. Thus, I walked through these aisles transfixed, taking it all in. I rejoiced in the heady aromas of the flowers and mulch, let my eyes dance across all the happy colors and felt the smooth handles of well known, long ago put away, garden tools; all of it bringing back a flood of warmer weather memories; visions of the past yet things to come. The groundhog may have seen his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter, but I saw a kayak and to me that means spring is just around the corner.