It’s spring.  The parts of nature that have slumbered through the winter are in various states of opening their sleepy eyes.  The winter has been harsh though.  Perhaps not so much for nature itself, but definitely for human kind.  It is spring for nature, but winter for us it seems. 

Blanketed by Covid-19, we humans are all but snowed in.  Only there are no joyous sled rides or snow ball fights with friends.  Just creative ways to entertain ourselves especially if we live alone like I do.  

My meager wine collection has suffered a bit from this pandemic as well.  Though many bottles were consumed during virtual happy hours with friends, my wine wall is still standing.  And with most of the bottles still in residence.  I thank a break in the Seattle rain for this.  I am trying to get outside more. 

Being both outside and living in a crowded city makes social distancing a bit harder and a whole lot more awkward.  Two people, or me and what seems like a couple or family each time , play this game of chicken to decide who will exit the sidewalk into the road to keep the proper distance.  Most of the time I do, but I’m stubborn at times.  Kids?  Old people?  Most people?  I’ll take the street.  Happy couple holding hands and flaunting their togetherness that all but screams John Cusack holding a boom box over his head?  The crosswalk is mine bitches, move!  I still need to see that movie.  I suppose I have plenty of time now.  

I also have plenty of time to miss my old yard and garden.  I know I would be a lot happier being able to tinker in the yard.  I’d be calmer for sure.  I’d love to be sweaty from planting, mowing, weeding, and building things with the sun over my head (I’d take rain even) and fresh air in my lungs.

I don’t have the sun over my head.  Not on my shaded veranda anyway, but I do have fresh air and several potted plants and flowers that I am watching come back to life.  The sun I do get is either from visiting my P-patch nearby or from going on a walk or a run.

The Seattle neighborhood I live in has beautiful old houses with mature gardens of all varieties.  Perfectly manicured, whimsical, wild, neglected (though this is rare), creative, duck inhabited (seen the sign, but not the duck), sunny, shaded, steep, and out of place (hello palm trees), but all bring me great joy as I venture outside.  

Walking is my favorite.  Partly because this neighborhood has hills from hell, but mostly because it allows me the time to meander more and really take in the scenery.  One thing I have noticed whether walking or running are the signs posted in these pretty yards.  I’m not sure if they are always there or if they are new because of the world’s current happenings.  I know I haven’t noticed them before.

They are simple little signs that have the same basic design has campaign signs.  Only the campaign is not political at all.  Just plain white signs with black letters arranged into uplifting messages.  

“ONE DAY AT A TIME”  

“DON’T GIVE UP”

“YOU ARE WORTHY OF LOVE”

I have seen more of these signs.  If I had a yard here, I would definitely put one in mine!  What a great way to tell people that we are not alone.  Not really.  Inspirational signs in beautiful yards and teddy bears in windows.  We will be okay.

It is Spring for nature and it will be Spring for all of us again.  The sun will shine on our faces and we will grow together again.