Carol Kroll

Tough Love

Oh I know spring is in the air, and everyone is all high about it, but I really am not fooled by this courtship that happens EVERY time – this time of year. It’s been the same every year for 37 years. The first time you hear birds outside your window after literally months of silence and howling winter winds and lonely trains, the smell of wet ground and dog poo (even in places where there are no dogs suspiciously enough) people wearing shorts and riding motorbikes the first day its 50.

So you get a little brave sometimes in March and crack a window. And are overpowered and taken in by its sweet alluring scent of FRESH AIR. You get lulled in a little more. The sun now is not such a foreign object and he too is in cahoots with March. Mid to late March you then succumb to March’s sultry charms and come hither stares of clear starry filled nights and bright moons high in the sky and then you start falling in love with spring again. OH, spring. It’s promises of flowers, robins, green grass, blue sky, children laughing outside, grass cutting, tiny baby animals. LIFE. LIGHT.

Goodbye darkness. Farewell.

Oh, you sad, sad, sad, foolish simpleton…

NEXT DAY!

NEWSFLASH!

WINTER STORM WARNING 12 INCHES OF SNOW TOMORROW!

AND 10 STRAIGHT DAYS OF CLOUDY SKIES.

I’m not falling for it this time, March. I’m JUST NOT. You can beckon me with 50, 55, 60, even 65 degree temps, but I am not falling for your tired old tricks. YOU are going to have to PROVE to me that you are not going to crush me with a winter storm to end all winter storms. Or pound me with freezing rain as I watch the water damage become more pronounced in the left corner of my basement adding to the fiery heartache of me KNOWING the grade needs to be raised (or not because its always something else that is far more involved) or the fact that I need a new roof on this place I currently dwell because water is leaking in from above too. Why not break my water heater while you are at it too. Oh wait, that was January.

No.

YOU, Mr. March, are going to have to PROVE yourself. Prove to me you have changed. Maybe you have it in you this time. I am willing to give you another chance for the 37th time. I really am. I want to love you like everyone else does. DON’T BLOW IT THIS TIME.

(Easter and all its chocolate can’t even save you this year, so you have your work cut out for you.)