The Promise of Spring
Dear Daniel,
Spring is coming to Ukraine. Of course, it's only March 10, so we could easily have more snow at any time in the next month, but today feels like spring . . .
Spring is coming to Ukraine. Of course, it's only March 10, so we could easily have more snow at any time in the next month, but today feels like spring . . .
Dear Daniel,
Spring is coming to Ukraine. Of course, it's only March 10, so we could easily have more snow at any time in the next month, but today feels like spring. Yesterday I saw a bush that was covered in tiny pink blossoms. Even my houseplants seem to know the difference, because my rose bloomed for the first time in I don't know how long, and my bamboo plant is putting out a bunch of new leaves.
I wonder if you have ever experienced a true spring. Probably not, because in order to fully appreciate the spring, you have to live through the winter. I remember my first real spring. It was when I lived in France. Although we didn't get much snow during the winter, it was obvious that nature was dead, or at least in hibernation. The trees were bare, the grass looked almost gray and brittle, I never heard birds sining--there weren't even insects! Then one day things felt different. When I went outside, I wanted to skip and sing! Birds were chirping everywhere; it was nearly deafening after the long silence of winter. The grass looked young and tender and was dotted with hundreds of bright yellow dandelions, and there were cute little black and red beetles scurring about their business all over the walkways of the campus where I lived. The trees looked different too, like a soft green mist had settled in the bare branches. When I got closer, I realized it was because each twig was covered with budding leaves. And as I strolled along I noticed something strange--I could see my shadow going along with me. We had gotten so little direct sunlight during the winter that for three months I hadn't seen my shadow!
Enjoy your springtime, even if it's not as dramatic as the one I just described!
Love,
Sharon
Spring is coming to Ukraine. Of course, it's only March 10, so we could easily have more snow at any time in the next month, but today feels like spring. Yesterday I saw a bush that was covered in tiny pink blossoms. Even my houseplants seem to know the difference, because my rose bloomed for the first time in I don't know how long, and my bamboo plant is putting out a bunch of new leaves.
I wonder if you have ever experienced a true spring. Probably not, because in order to fully appreciate the spring, you have to live through the winter. I remember my first real spring. It was when I lived in France. Although we didn't get much snow during the winter, it was obvious that nature was dead, or at least in hibernation. The trees were bare, the grass looked almost gray and brittle, I never heard birds sining--there weren't even insects! Then one day things felt different. When I went outside, I wanted to skip and sing! Birds were chirping everywhere; it was nearly deafening after the long silence of winter. The grass looked young and tender and was dotted with hundreds of bright yellow dandelions, and there were cute little black and red beetles scurring about their business all over the walkways of the campus where I lived. The trees looked different too, like a soft green mist had settled in the bare branches. When I got closer, I realized it was because each twig was covered with budding leaves. And as I strolled along I noticed something strange--I could see my shadow going along with me. We had gotten so little direct sunlight during the winter that for three months I hadn't seen my shadow!
Enjoy your springtime, even if it's not as dramatic as the one I just described!
Love,
Sharon
