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By Suzanne Mazer Stewart
Well, I knew it had to happen sooner or later. Winter would finally bow out
and Spring would come waltzing in. Not that I mind; this Winter came in such
fits and starts it was hard to tell what weather was coming next. A little
Spring predictable unpredictability will be a nice change. No, what I dread
each year is the effect the season has on the members of this family.
The kids tend to go absolutely insane this time of year. Something about warm
days and sunny afternoons sends them right over the edge. Not that being
members of this family doesn't already give them a slight mental imbalance,
to begin with, but there's a change that comes over them about the time the
trees start budding. It seems they can't remember to close the door anymore.
They can't remember to wipe their feet or take off their shoes. I've got so
much mud tracked into the house, I don't need to plow the garden. I can just
take the seeds and plant them in the living room. With the front door left
open, the plants will get plenty of sunshine. And with the way things get
spilled in this house, they won't lack for water, either. Then there's the
increased level of energy emitted, as well. If in Spring, a young man's fancy
turns to love, a child's fancy must turn to lunacy. They run around here like
up wind up toys in hyper drive. If they aren't tearing through the house like
a herd of stampeding elephants, they're "BORED." The other night, our oldest
son was complaining of boredom. My husband jokingly told him to go run around
the house ten times. The nut case came in a little while later asking if he
could stop at 8 times around, because it was getting dark!
Then there's my husband. As soon as the robins appear, you'll find him in the
garage tinkering with the garden tractor, or inspecting the blades on the
mower deck, or worse. He tends to plan these great projects that are started
with great enthusiasm, only to be finished with large amounts of wifely
nagging and/or left unfinished for "later." Oh, that later should come
sooner! My kitchen has been in a half-finished state for 3 years now, the
poor, neglected victim of the great Spring Project of '99. I've reached the
point of threats to his supreme happiness: doing it myself with HIS tools.
I have to admit, I fall under the spell a little, myself. I've already
ordered 50 bulbs to plant in the flower garden. And I've found a new
strawberry recipe I can't wait to try once my berries come on. And then
there's the vegetable seeds I've started, and the quilts I plan to make for
the girls' beds, and the dining room to repaint, and Easter dinner to plan
and prepare, and Mother's Day gifts to make, and...
Excuse me, I've got to go. The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day, and I
think I see a bluebird on the lilac bush in the backyard. Besides, there's so
many wonderful new things I have to go do. Is it warm in here, or is it just
me?
You may reach Suzanne at MSZFROGGIE@aol.com
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