Here Comes the Month of March!

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!