Mary Richards and Me

Spring is here. I can taste it.

Posted on 3/7/2010 at 2:52:42 PM

Today is March 7 and it’s already starting to feel like spring. I say “already” because, in the Midwest, you cannot expect the days to feel like spring until at least April, if then. In Washington, DC, from what I hear, spring arrives in March and, best of all, the cherry blossoms arrive in March – I cannot wait for the cherry blossoms!

One sign that spring must be just around the corner is that it’s been sunny a full 5 days out of 7 this past week. !!! Until yesterday, it was still pretty chilly – high 30s, low 40s – but as long as it’s sunny, I can take a little chill (and that means a lot coming from the girl who feels cold 95% of the time!). Yesterday and today it’s been in the 50s and, after bitter winds for so many weeks, that feels downright hot! Well, maybe not quite.

And besides being sunny during the day, the sun has been rising earlier and earlier. Until late last week, every morning my entire run would take place in the dark, or at least until the last few minutes when the sky would finally start to brighten. All this week, the sun has started to peek out around the middle of my run and, as I start to head back towards the Capitol, I enjoy watching the morning light grow and change until I end up at my front door ready to start my day. And when you add in a nice cup of coffee – better yet, blueberry coffee- I can’t help but walk out my front door with a smile and a light heart. Granted, I might feel differently a mere 2 hours later when something – anything – happens to trip me up but at least the day begins on a good note.

Besides the cherry blossoms and sunshine-y runs, here are a few other things I’m looking forward to this spring:

– Visits! Two of my college girlfriends are spending at least part of their spring break in DC later this month and, at the end of the month, my sister Caroline and three of her Hillsdale girlfriends, Shannon, EA, and Bond, are coming to DC for a couple days!!! Glorious.

– Easter! I always love Easter Sunday and celebrating the Resurrection. I have such fond memories of Easters past and I know this one in Washington, DC will be especially memorable. At the same time, I know I’ll feel a little sad the week prior, on Palm Sunday, because it will be my first Palm Sunday (except for the one I spent in Scotland) in 4 years when I’m not singing with the Chorale in Valpo’s chapel…

– Tangysweet! Part of my observance of Lent this year has been to give up ice cream and frozen yogurt. Lara and Maria and I are doing it together. That means no tangysweet! So even when my dad visited last week and took me and Miriel to Tangysweet for dessert, I did not allow myself to even taste it. It was so hard to resist, trust me. But after Easter, I’m definitely going there!

– Sara Groves! Yes, you’d better believe it. I haven’t heard her in person since Christmas 2007, I think, and she’s coming to Falls Church, VA in April on the Art/Music/Justice tour with Jars of Clay! Anne found out about it and invited me to go with her so we bought our tickets last week. I couldn’t be more excited! I really hope she sings selections from her new cd, which I’ve been listening to all week….

…so much to look forward to…mmm….I love spring.