It's Day 9 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, started by Two Writing Teachers. I am writing around the theme topic of "What I Know For Sure." (See Day 1 for a full explanation.)
When was a young girl, spring always excited me because it meant one thing: new ducklings and chicks to raise for the fair. As many of you know from reading my stories from last March, my childhood was filled with animals and the outdoors. Those ducklings and chicks, so vulnerable in their fluffy down and tiny little bodies, depended fully on me (with lots of help from my dad) to take care of them. They were so full of life and promise, and they put a smile of my face every time I looked at them. They embodied spring and the resurrection it symbolized, like little phoenixes.
Spring also meant the ice on the pond getting thinner, the horse's coat shedding its wooly winter fur, puddles to jump in, and the creek running wild. It meant thunderstorms, muddy dog paws, and birds chirping. It meant everything and everyone waking up.
When the weather warmed up FINALLY yesterday, and the snow started to melt, the smell of mud and that hint of new life sprang to the surface. Our clocks were turned ahead, meaning light for longer into the evening, and the sun seemed to shine just a little warmer. Neighbors emerged from their winter caves, and I heard the boy next door playing basketball in his driveway. That sound of the ball hitting the pavement sounded like spring. Everyone at church seemed to have brighter smiles and a bounce in their steps. When I took the dog out, I saw that emerging under the melting snow was a tiny pink flower bud growing amongst the winter leaves of the hellebores. Spring is here!
What I Know For Sure: I've always known that no matter how long, cold, or dark the winter is, spring always comes. And that has made all the difference.
Thanks for sharing the wonders of spring. I love your last lines:
ReplyDelete"no matter how long, cold, or dark the winter is, spring always comes. And that has made all the difference."
That is true both literally and figuratively. Thanks for sharing a little bit of spring!
A few thoughts -
ReplyDeleteI was magnetized by the first line, thinking, YAY! more of her "raising animals" stories!
When your tale turned to spring, even better!
I've enjoyed how you sum up each post, "What I know for sure is..." These are the take-aways; the gems to soak in and store up.
Thank you for sharing your treasured slices - your pearls.
What a beautiful post. One never tires of Spring as it brings new promises and new beginnings. You have captured its beauty in words. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes! There is a theme of spring posts over the past two days. I definitely had a spring in my step today heading to work.
ReplyDeleteYes, that Spring always comes is what keeps me going. I remember the first time I held a chick. Its lightness amazed me. I love the term bird bones even more now that I know how light those babies are.
ReplyDeleteI look at the willows ready to pop on my pussy willow tree and know that Spring is coming even though my yard is still packed with snow. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDelete"And that has made all of the difference" indeed! I love your themed writing and the chicks. Brings me back to when we raised chickens when my son was young.
ReplyDeleteIt does make all the difference. It's such a blessing to have spring to look forward to after the shivery winter. It's one of the benefits to living in a place with four distinct seasons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing about spring. Another wonderful time of the year!
ReplyDeleteWe are enjoying our...I think 13th..storm day today... ;0)