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Sure signs that spring is near:
I can't get my children to go to sleep. At seven PM, I can't say, "It's getting dark. Time to get ready for bed." Jasmine gives me that look like, "Who are you kidding, it's still light out."
In the past week, it has become a monumental struggle to get children into bed. I pick up Jane, grab her blanket, and say, "It's bed time." She looks me directly in the eye, shakes her head, and says "No." I put her to bed. She's quiet for awhile and then she starts yelling. I get her out of bed. Fifteen minutes later, I put her back in bed. I usually win after three tries. No matter what time I start this little ritual, she's up and down several times.
Jasmine claims, "I don't know how to sleep." Several times in the past week, I believe I have fallen asleep before she has. My latest ploy is to put QVC on at 9 PM. She isn't that much of a shopping fanatic yet, that she will actively watch it. The only problem is that every now and then QVC produces a doll, collectible, or toy show, and then she lies there watching it. Of course, the child can't sleep in a darkened room, because "I afraid of the dark". It's amazing, when she is watching a movie or video, she has to turn off every light that can be seen.
My baby stands by the doors and windows and yells, "Out." Jasmine was not the type to get Spring Fever, Jane is. This past week she has spent a lot of time standing by windows. Every time I open the door, she wants to be right there. One morning as I left for work, she went and got her coat and said "Out." I really feel for her. I keep gazing out the windows of work. I would much rather be outside than stuck in some stuffy office building.
People are feeling more upbeat. During the past week, I have had several people tell me that they are beginning to feel better. I think to some degree everyone suffers from light deprivation during the winter months. People are beginning to talk about vacations, and fitting into bathing suits and wedding dresses. I've noticed that a lot more people seem to be shopping during the lunch hour. Spring is coming, its time to freshen up the wardrobe.
I want to play softball, and I think about baseball. I think it's a disease. The second its above fifty degrees, my mind wanders to the softball field. I find myself thinking, "I can be playing softball rather than working." Of course, that wouldn't work really well, because everyone else would be working.
I usually stumble upon my spikes and glove. I find myself picking any old ball and tossing it in the air. I read articles about baseball. I start saying, "The Cubs will go to the World Series this year." I find myself looking for softball programs at different park districts, and calling my sisters to check if they are going to play ball anywhere.
For some reason, I want to drag my slightly aging body around the base path. I want to hear those knees crack, as I go for a grounder. The sounds of laughter, the thump of the ball in a mitt, the smell of lousy hot dogs fill my mind.
I know spring is coming. Spring always comes right around my birthday, and that is fast approaching. The air has a crisp smell. Now, hopefully, I can just hang on until the first tulips make their appearance. Then I will let out a sigh of relief because I will know that spring has arrived.
February 25, 2000 |
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