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I once read that lowering expectations can make you happier. An interesting concept, to be sure, and one which I entertained this past week on March 21st, the first OFFICIAL day of spring. Where I live here in the Midwest, it neither looked like spring nor felt like spring with cold, non-forgiving temperatures, and no buds be seen on the trees. The first sign of REAL spring for me is always the few crocuses that still manage to push their way up into my yard each year. Until I see them, I am not convinced of this long awaited season. The second things I look for, or course, are the robins in the yard, pulling up worms or just hopping around in hopes of a tasty meal.. And finally, when the tulips and daffodils can bee seen one day in all their splendor and glory along with the forsythia and lilacs. Now that is the picture of Spring, for me!
When I was growing up, I was not so aware of the natural signs of spring. I was a city girl in Cincinnati, and other than the Magnolia trees in bloom, I think that, only warmer weather brought on the feelings of spring for me. Along with that, there was also the anticipation of going downtown Cincinnati to shop for a new Easter outfit and new Easter shoes, usually patten-leather,black and shinny! In the earlier years, it also included looking for an Easter hat (bonnet), and the song, "In Your Easter Bonnet, With All the Frills Upon It...." was sung with happy anticipation in our house.
But, it is the feeling that I still get when Daylight Savings time changes to let more light into the afternoon and evening that brings on the greatest memories of spring-time for me. For it was in these longer day-light hours that we could remain outside, playing with our neighborhood friends, games of Tag, Kick the Can, Capture the Flag etc. If truth be known, this is what spring-time really meant to me, and the memory of it captures me with delight even today!
Today I am thinking about St. Patrick's Day, and the upcoming celebration of my Irish heritage. I was talking with my Irish sister, Maureen, this morning and she said that, growing up, there were only two saints that she really liked: St. Patrick, and St. Francis who loved animals and the environment, and lived a simple life. I agree with her, and how wonderful to have both these saints on the "world's stage" this week at the same time.
Many years ago, I took a trip to Ireland with my mother, niece and sister, Marueen and one of the special moments that I remember, was walking through the woods to view the Lake Isle of Innisfree that William ButlerYeats made famous in his poem, "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." What was particularly special to me was that my sister Maureen quoted this entire poem from memory while we overlooked the island of Innisfree....a special Irish moment in time. For any who might not know this poem, it has the same theme as "Daffodils" quoted by me earlier....that when we are away from these special views and places, the memory of them will sustain us, and nurture our soul. So, once again, I offer a poem on this BLOG...
THE LAKE ISLE OF INNISFREE
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfee
And a small cabin built there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavement grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.
William Butler Yeats
Ah, who couldn't love the line, "And I shall find some peace there; for peace comes dropping slow." Certainly not a true Irishman!
* Though the picture above is not one taken in Ireland, it looks much like many of the green fields we saw there. In fact, it is a picture of farmland here in the midwest after spring planting and the first signs of growth...lovely sight wherever it is!
Ah, the fifth of March; time for the snow to go, but as you can see, March has once again come in like a lion, and hopefully will go out like a lamb. This is the "swing month" for me when waiting for spring seems an eternity, and those first crocuses are nowhere to be seen. But, in the meantime, a lot happens in March to keep us hopeful....daylight saving time returns here in the Midwest on March 10th, and the official day of spring is March 21st...not that far away. We have several other events in March: March 17th, St. Patrick's Day (a fun diversion for many, Irish or not), March Madness to keep us watching basketball, and March also begins Baseball Spring training for all of us baseball fans who follow their special team; for me, it will always be The Cincinnati Reds. This is also Women's History month and I can think of many women who should be honored but, for me, I need not look any further than my own mother who raised seven children to become independent in the world, while keeping her own sanity! I also would honor all the mothers of today who are raising their own children....knowing what a huge, and often stressful job this is today. These are the unsung women heroes in my book! And, o.k. I bet that you did not know that March 14th is "Save a Spider" Day...now who thinks these crazy things up? Aren't spiders still pretty well absent during the month of March? I guess I could go on and on with a few more March facts like the official flower for March is the daffodil (time to reread the poem "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth (one of my favorites!) And now that I am thinking about it, I think that I will quote it here...it always brings sunshine to my day, and happiness to my soul, so I share it here with you...
THE DAFFODILS
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed---and gazed----but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood
They flash upon the inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
Well, these seem to be the highlights of the month of March, but perhaps, there will be one more significant event; the election of a new Roman Catholic pope.... One might wish to pray to St. Joseph in regards to this, if one is so inclined, as the month of March is also dedicated to St. Joseph. Maybe he might help with the selection!
