Do I Dare?

I can't help it. It's on my mind all the time. It drives my emotions and my moods. So I have to tempt fate (or Old Man Winter) one more time. I have to write about Spring. Because I still think its coming. Only this time I have proof. I believe its what we all wait for at the end of every winter. And when I tell people that I saw this sign, they're very happy and a little incredulous. A customer was standing at her door the other day watching a yellow bellied sapsucker. She was enraptured by it and says she watches it every year but when I told her about my sign, she was thrilled. Another customer pointed to a cardinal in the tall tree across the street. It was singing happily and so was my customer. And when I told her what Mr. Right and I had seen, she too was excited. Three days ago a co-worker told me he'd seen a kildeer and a cardinal. He was very proud but when I came in the next day and told him what we'd seen, he was truly impressed.

So we see the most stubborn ice slowly melting away and we hear rumbles of thunder and get lots of rain driven by March winds. These are all wonderful and not so wonderful signs of Spring but they're signs of Spring nevertheless and always appreciated. But there's one sure and certain sign that brings lightness to every heart when it's spotted. And here it is. Its not a great picture because he was so far away but it's a wonderful picture because of the subject:

My bearer of good news. Mr. Robin Redbreast. He seemed a little wary. Maybe on guard knowing that Old Man Winter might still have some tricks up his sleeve but he was here and I know he's not going back...at least until next Fall. So now I'm satisfied. It's true. It's coming. Spring is in the air.

What Was I Thinking???!!!

I should have known better than to write the post that I wrote yesterday. Obviously Old Man Winter thought I was taunting him. Laughing in his face at the fact that I thought he would soon be gone. I wasn't. He took it all wrong. He fought the good fight and I respected him for it. I vowed never to work outside another winter. I whined and cried from the beginning until what I thought was the end. But then I wrote that post and offended him. I should have known that someone with his determination and tenacity wouldn't take my post lightly. Well...it's too late now. It's done.

I just went outside. There were no birds singing. All those birds are probably hightailing it back to the South right now. I couldn't see any cranes flying overhead. There was no mild, happy feeling in the air. And my dafs. Just look what happened now. They're still brave but they don't look nearly as hopeful as they did yesterday.

And if all this mess was in the forecast, I didn't know it. Or I never would have written what I wrote.

Tomorrow the wind chill at 9 a.m. is predicted to be about 4 degrees. What a dreary forecast! And, that's about the time I'll start working outside.

I was wrong. This winter will never end.

And more importantly, please visit Thea and leave a comment. She is beautifully, graciously and generously donating $1 for every comment left on her blog before 8 o'clock tonight up to $250. This money will be donated to Team James and Jake in the March of Dimes walk for babies.