Go Spring!

The air was crisp and cold this morning. Snow crystals brightened the road. I was on a walk with Pip, the dog, and just walking. I guess I was happy to be walking, but I think I was wishing it were warmer- as usual. And then I heard the robin. The clear, sweet American robin song.

Somehow that changed everything. I started to feel warmer somehow. It’s not that I haven’t seen robins recently, but their song just feels like warmth, like better days. I started to think of the sweetness of changing seasons. That’s one of the rewards of going through a tough winter, a tough time, a tough headache- you get to the end and … everything seems brighter or lighter.

I have been hearing lots of birds lately. We have been feeding the songbirds so they congregate in our pine tree and sound like the Grand Central Station of little birds. Buzzing, chirping, chips, titters, tweets: juncos, siskins, finches. I have also heard lots of drumming from flickers and woodpeckers, mainly on metal streetlights and wooden power poles, respectively (drumming: rapid hitting with beak, I read they do this to attract a mate).

Here in Flagstaff with spring comes the melting of the snow, thankfully we have had some (I can be thankful now), so for a time we will have some running water. And lots and lots of mud. But bring it on! Spring! Hurray!