The Promise of Spring

After every brutal winter in Chicago, I ask myself – Why do I live here?  Honestly, it is the hope of spring that keeps me going in this godforsaken climate.  Each year, when spring arrives, I feel a slight shift in my attitude and in my thinking.  Spring is definitely “hopeful” and this tinge of the newness to come shows up in everyone – it is definitely “in the air”. This got me thinking about all the seasons and living in an area where you get to experience all the highs and lows that a climate can bring.  I just returned from a glorious week in St. John where the weather is pretty much 83 degrees year round.  We took a boat excursion one day and our boat captain hearkened from New England.  I asked him about island life in the Caribbean, and he commented that he still missed winter after all these years. I asked him why and he said “Change”.  What is it about the Earth’s axis not standing up straight that creates seasons which keep us so in tuned to change?

Each season brings a promise of something new, something different. If we didn’t have change – there would be no butterflies!  With change we clear the closet and wipe the slate clean. We begin to see that each season brings a promise of a new life and take a different approach.  Change is what helps keep us young, and having four different seasons makes for a calendar in constant seasonal motion.

Spring
Spring occurs midway on the Earth’s journey from winter to summer and from summer to winter. The sun appears to be directly over the Earth’s equator, and the length of days and nights are equal over most of the planet.

Would the appearance of new leaves and fresh grass be so wonderful if they hadn’t been absent? Each and every one of our five senses is in each season, and spring is no different.  The sounds of birds chirping in the morning is a welcome one at that. Yards become filled with cardinals and finches.  There is a  warmth in the air and a fresher smell and feel as spring arrives.  Trees and shrubs develop small buds, rose bushes start to sprout and perennials peek out from under the ground. Spring cleaning is such an appropriate phrase – dust off those cobwebs and let the sun shine in! Yard clean up becomes a must as we rake out the old leaves, twigs and ground cover that have been buried under the snow. We burn our prairie grasses, clean out the gutters, and wash the windows – all in anticipation of the summer days to come. Nature’s spring decorations come out as daffodils, forsythia and tulips dot the landscapes.  The colorful beauty of spring bulbs and flowering trees and shrubs is a strong reminder of the rebirth of life after a long winter freeze.

Summer
When the North Pole tilts most toward the sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer. This occurs when the Earth is farthest away from the sun, and begins around June 21-22.

The dog days of summer!  When they arrive along with the summer heat, us northerners drench in the sun as much as possible. Windows remain open and the screens allow the soft breezes to come in without the accompanying bugs.  The sounds of lawn mowers, motorcycles and children fill the air.  Kids stay outside later as the longer days linger.  We fire up the barbecue, have deck parties, and entertain outside. Restaurants open up their outdoor patios and rooftops.  Flip flops, sandals and tank tops are the norm. Outdoor summer outdoor festivals are a weekend occurrence. The food of summer makes my mouth water as it is all fresh and in season.  We have fresh produce at the farmers market, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, not to mention grilled steak, burgers, chicken, fish, corn on the cob and watermelon. Lemonade is never more refreshing and ice-cream never more tasty. The smells of food cooking on the grill, the lathering on of sunscreen and the taste of s’ mores readily come to mind.  Lakes become filled with boats and canoes, local pools are filled with kids, inner tubes and slides.  Life is good in the summer.

Fall
Autumn occurs midway on the Earth’s journey from winter to summer and from summer to winter. Fall occurs when the sun appears to be directly over the Earth’s equator, and the length of days and nights are equal over most of the planet.

When the days begin to shorten and there is a crispness to the air, the best season of all arrives in Chicago.  It’s time to bust out the sweaters, boots and scarves.  The humidity begins to decrease, the warm fall days become more dry and  nights turn cool. Responding to less sunlight, the leaves on the trees lose their green chlorophyll and the fall leaf colors of red, orange and yellow emerge and weave a tapestry of color unmatched in any season.   Leaves slowly trickle down to the ground and gather in pools on lawns and streets.  Oktoberfest beers emerge, along with pumpkin lattes.  Jack-o-lanterns, colorful asters and fall mums brighten up the houses in the neighborhood. The power foods of fall start to emerge; apples, peas, cauliflower, squash, pumpkin and sweet potatoes; never the best as they are in the fall.  Fall activities are plentiful; with corn mazes, pumpkin farms, Halloween parties and bonfires to accompany the season.

Winter
In early January each year, Earth reaches its closest distance to sun. At this time, the northern hemisphere experiences winter

Things start to slow down in the winter, and life becomes more about cocooning, more about nesting.  In the animal kingdom, it’s time for the long sleep.  Clocks change back and the world darkens earlier.  Mother Nature is in a hibernation period as the snow flies, the ground hardens and foliage disappears to expose the stark skeleton figures of the trees. People bundle up – scarves, hats, down coats and boots are the standard fare while walking around the city. Soups, stews, and comfort foods show up at mealtime, as do all forms of hot beverages – hot cider, hot chocolate and egg nog lattes.  Your breath shows up in the form of a little cloud, as the moisture of your breath condenses as it hits the cold air.  Fireplaces are lit and furnaces turn up. The beauty of snow is, for me, unsurpassed, as white transforms the brown of late autumn. Snowflakes fall—so intricate, but delicate enough to settle on your eyelashes. Frost paints its murals on trees and windows. Fog drifts in and out of branches heavy with snow. The world becomes quiet as the snow mutes the noise of traffic.  The sky never looks more blue and the world more peaceful than it does in the winter

“In the depth of winter I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” —
Albert Camus

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”~William Shakespeare

Of course, after winter, we cycle back to spring and the seasons start all over again.  And it is exactly the thought of spring, and the rebirth of life, that gets me through.  At some subconscious level, spring signifies moving forward, not remaining stagnant, and pulling away.