I was going to title this essay “An Ode To Spring” but it occurred to me that I don’t really know how to write an ode. So I went with a salute rather than an ode because I know that in this world, I’m not ode anything. (rim shot)
Whenever I think about spring, I think about my Slinky. Slinky is a perennial toy favorite that is, in reality, a spring. As a child, I would spend hours watching my Slinky fall down the stairs. Now, I spend hours taking care that I don’t do the same thing.
Spring has finally arrived on our shores and I am glad to see it. Spring is perhaps the most complex of all the seasons and takes some getting used to. Spring is the beginning of some things, the middle of others, and the end for still others.
When spring shows up I know it is the end of the line for the snow removing equipment and time to get ready for planting. The days are getting longer and warmer which makes people feel peppier and is the basis of the old cliche, “He’s got a spring in his step.”
In winter we have to worry about colds and flu. In spring the big worry is spring fever. Spring fever is a general combination of listlessness, lethargy, languor, ennui, and apathy. There is no known cure but has been successfully treated with a swift kick in the butt.
Both spring training and spring break take place in the spring although spring training happens more in the winter than in the spring but who would show up to see winter training?
Spring break is a time in a young person’s life when they discover the effect alcohol has on a person’s common sense. Oh, sure, it may SEEM like a good idea at the time, but when your wet t-shirt picture shows up on Facebook and you can’t remember who you “friended” that night, it’s a whole different story.
The game of golf has what are called “spring rules.” Since I don’t play golf, I am not quite sure what spring rules are but it probably has something to do with either beer or betting.
Spring cleaning is also very popular this time of year. Spring cleaning involves cleaning things you didn’t even think needed cleaning. You even have to clean your window screens which are comprised of hundreds of holes, so spring cleaning is all about cleaning nothing.
I like to do spring cleaning with a leaf blower. It sure gets rid of the dust but I highly suggest you nail down all of your stuff first.
We all carry the spirit of spring around with us but it is at this time of year that we need to let it out. We have to reach deep inside to reach our innerspring…and mattress, so that we will be joyous to the point of doing handsprings.
So set your spring free and be an example for your offspring to celebrate spring as the springboard to summer.
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