I feel jipped.
I mean, being a Buckeye gal born and raised, the one thing I can truly say that I love about livin in the midwest is that we get to experience all four seasons in their purest form. Granted the Spring and Fall can bring confusing times of "heat" in the car in the morning that turns to "AC" by quittin time, causing the sinuses to throw a coniption fit, but all in all, I've come to enjoy the fab four growin up in SW Ahia.
There's nuttin like that first "jacket weather" morning somewhere in late September that leads to the slight color changes in the trees- the smell of someone in the neighborhood hosting a bonfire (or committing arson, never quite sure), the sounds of NFL Sundays on the boob tube, and our local vendors selling pumpkins and haystacks. These all inevitably flow into putting the jacket away for your winter coat because Jamie Simpson on Newscenter 7 tells us that "we might see our first bout of that "white stuff" during the rush hour evening drive, so bundle up Miami Valley". We kick on the furnace, always to that initial smell of something burning in the ducts. The pumpkins, now rotted from sitting out on the lawn for 2 months, make way for anything made of pine. Little twinkling lights adorn most homes (unless you are one of our Jewish neighbors, then it's a blow up lawn Menora), and Lite 94.9 starts their 24 hours of Christmas music. Eventually, once we ring in the New Year, schools are inevitably delayed or closed from ice storms, Winter's fury. St. D and myself rev up the snowblower, and clear a small one foot path down the sidewalk and driveway. We go sledding in West Milton down the "sledding hill", and walk through the Englewood Reserve's natural "winter wonderland"; admiring the ice coated branches and veils of white that surround the trails.
By March, we are usually ready for the blanket to melt, and for a tinge of "jacket" weather to begin. By the beginning of Spring, it's a welcoming sound to hear birds chirping outside of our window, being able to open up the windows "a crack". By early April, the sight of the first daffodils blooming, that first scent of lawn chemicals polluting yards.... Lowes and Home Depot hit the airwaves reminding us to get our lawns ready for a busy summer, and by May, I'm ready to spend Abbey's college education fund on flowers and mulch... preparing ourselves for the hazy lazy days of Summer. Days become longer. The window air conditioner units are "in place", making Uncle Dayton Power and Light Co. "very happy".
But again, we were jipped.
I grew weary and tired of hearing folks chime "My GOD, I can't believe what WONDERFUL WEATHER we are having"!!! I would go out and stroke our snow blower, who by this time, started filling out paperwork for unemployment benefits. I found myself having to scramble to get my capris and summer clothes washed and ready- my pasty white girl legs, still realing from not seeing much "light" in the last few months, blinding me in the mirror.
But I did what I had to do. I tried to go out and walk, and enjoy the early Spring that God, the Devil, or Lex Luther managed to bestow upon us. A few days ago, I found myself walking around our neighborhood with our smiling pup, and got my first tinge of excitement when I began to smell beautiful spring flowers and bushes. As I smiled, the sun beaming down on my pasty pale face, I began digging the beautifully mild temperatures through the majesty of smell. Suddenly, I got a whiff of my dog's "shit" bag that we take along to pick up her crap, and it suddenly became an epiphany of my mood for again, being jipped outta my winter.
I truly did need an attitude adjustment. I mean it's no one's fault that I was jilted by Mother Nature, unless you wanna blame Al Gore and all of his "global warming" bullshit. (yea, let's just blame Al, just cus we can). I did our weekly grocery shopping with my Lil Abs at our local Walmart last night, and as I sweated profusely from the 82 degree evening, I began she and I's weekly ritual of grocery shopping. Her reminder to me that she is in need of a new bathing suit shifted me to the mindset of "JESUS... a BATHING SUIT! Isn't it only February?" But alas, again, I was snapped back to the reality that it was indeed March, and the first day of Spring. She picked out a very pretty purple bikini, reminding me too that my baby is 15, and yea, wearing (quite perfectly) a bikini.
Then it happened.
God was growing quite weary of my "mental bitching".
Truly a sign from above.
As swimsuit model Abbey and I got to the car, I began loading the back with the 514 plastic grocery sacks, I heard a commotion underneath a mini van parked a few spaces over.
It was a bird, in some sort of distress.
As I kept loading the family truckster up with our purchases, I began to have a feeling of dread. I absolutely HATE to hear anything in distress.. but ESPECIALLY an animal! I did a quick peek under the mini van, and it appeared that this little wren had a broken wing... now honestly I couldn't tell, but the poor little guy definitely was having a rough time. The squalking was unnerving, and I could feel a lump in my throat. I figured maybe that unfortunately when the mini van pulled into the parking space, maybe it clipped the birds wing? It's cries were deafening, and I found myself just wanting to get the car loaded and leave.
Suddenly, the calvary came... IN DROVES!
I couldn't help but watch it as it unfolded in front of me.
At least a dozen birds came swooping in from the sky, and surrounded the mini van. One little bird seemed to be talking to his distressed friend, quite the conversation it sounded. I began wondering what he was saying... "It's ok Paul... ITS OK!!!! We heard your cries and we are here buddy, hang in there!" Even as I walked by the mini van to put my empty cart back in the nearest "corral", the birds NEVER left.
I noticed on my way back over to my car, that SOMEHOW, the heroic friend was able to SCOOT the distressed bird out to the open lot... the distressed bird's cry now silent. Suddenly, without warning, BOTH birds spread their little bird wings and FLEW AWAY, followed by the entourage.
Now at this point, I had NOOOO idea what was initially "wrong" with the distressed little bird under the mini van- I must have been incorrect about it's wing since it managed to fly away. I wondered if maybe he had been stuck in something?
But what I did know is that I witnessed a beautiful occurance in nature. A band of tiny little warriors, hearing the sound of a fellow species in need, and came to the calling. I remember thinking initially that, even if this little distressed bird is dying, he wasn't going to die alone. He would have his posse there to guide him to the light. But the fact that somehow Baby Wren MD was schooled in the art of "wing" repair, what I thought would be a terrible end to my day turned out to be the awakening that I needed!
First day of Spring indeed! I'm suddenly enjoying the beauty that is the cherry blossom trees in my fair city. The smells of grass and flowers. The beautiful sights of young children riding their bikes and playing hopscotch in front of their homes.
Now watch it fucking snow.
I mean, being a Buckeye gal born and raised, the one thing I can truly say that I love about livin in the midwest is that we get to experience all four seasons in their purest form. Granted the Spring and Fall can bring confusing times of "heat" in the car in the morning that turns to "AC" by quittin time, causing the sinuses to throw a coniption fit, but all in all, I've come to enjoy the fab four growin up in SW Ahia.
There's nuttin like that first "jacket weather" morning somewhere in late September that leads to the slight color changes in the trees- the smell of someone in the neighborhood hosting a bonfire (or committing arson, never quite sure), the sounds of NFL Sundays on the boob tube, and our local vendors selling pumpkins and haystacks. These all inevitably flow into putting the jacket away for your winter coat because Jamie Simpson on Newscenter 7 tells us that "we might see our first bout of that "white stuff" during the rush hour evening drive, so bundle up Miami Valley". We kick on the furnace, always to that initial smell of something burning in the ducts. The pumpkins, now rotted from sitting out on the lawn for 2 months, make way for anything made of pine. Little twinkling lights adorn most homes (unless you are one of our Jewish neighbors, then it's a blow up lawn Menora), and Lite 94.9 starts their 24 hours of Christmas music. Eventually, once we ring in the New Year, schools are inevitably delayed or closed from ice storms, Winter's fury. St. D and myself rev up the snowblower, and clear a small one foot path down the sidewalk and driveway. We go sledding in West Milton down the "sledding hill", and walk through the Englewood Reserve's natural "winter wonderland"; admiring the ice coated branches and veils of white that surround the trails.
By March, we are usually ready for the blanket to melt, and for a tinge of "jacket" weather to begin. By the beginning of Spring, it's a welcoming sound to hear birds chirping outside of our window, being able to open up the windows "a crack". By early April, the sight of the first daffodils blooming, that first scent of lawn chemicals polluting yards.... Lowes and Home Depot hit the airwaves reminding us to get our lawns ready for a busy summer, and by May, I'm ready to spend Abbey's college education fund on flowers and mulch... preparing ourselves for the hazy lazy days of Summer. Days become longer. The window air conditioner units are "in place", making Uncle Dayton Power and Light Co. "very happy".
But again, we were jipped.
I grew weary and tired of hearing folks chime "My GOD, I can't believe what WONDERFUL WEATHER we are having"!!! I would go out and stroke our snow blower, who by this time, started filling out paperwork for unemployment benefits. I found myself having to scramble to get my capris and summer clothes washed and ready- my pasty white girl legs, still realing from not seeing much "light" in the last few months, blinding me in the mirror.
But I did what I had to do. I tried to go out and walk, and enjoy the early Spring that God, the Devil, or Lex Luther managed to bestow upon us. A few days ago, I found myself walking around our neighborhood with our smiling pup, and got my first tinge of excitement when I began to smell beautiful spring flowers and bushes. As I smiled, the sun beaming down on my pasty pale face, I began digging the beautifully mild temperatures through the majesty of smell. Suddenly, I got a whiff of my dog's "shit" bag that we take along to pick up her crap, and it suddenly became an epiphany of my mood for again, being jipped outta my winter.
I truly did need an attitude adjustment. I mean it's no one's fault that I was jilted by Mother Nature, unless you wanna blame Al Gore and all of his "global warming" bullshit. (yea, let's just blame Al, just cus we can). I did our weekly grocery shopping with my Lil Abs at our local Walmart last night, and as I sweated profusely from the 82 degree evening, I began she and I's weekly ritual of grocery shopping. Her reminder to me that she is in need of a new bathing suit shifted me to the mindset of "JESUS... a BATHING SUIT! Isn't it only February?" But alas, again, I was snapped back to the reality that it was indeed March, and the first day of Spring. She picked out a very pretty purple bikini, reminding me too that my baby is 15, and yea, wearing (quite perfectly) a bikini.
Then it happened.
God was growing quite weary of my "mental bitching".
Truly a sign from above.
As swimsuit model Abbey and I got to the car, I began loading the back with the 514 plastic grocery sacks, I heard a commotion underneath a mini van parked a few spaces over.
It was a bird, in some sort of distress.
As I kept loading the family truckster up with our purchases, I began to have a feeling of dread. I absolutely HATE to hear anything in distress.. but ESPECIALLY an animal! I did a quick peek under the mini van, and it appeared that this little wren had a broken wing... now honestly I couldn't tell, but the poor little guy definitely was having a rough time. The squalking was unnerving, and I could feel a lump in my throat. I figured maybe that unfortunately when the mini van pulled into the parking space, maybe it clipped the birds wing? It's cries were deafening, and I found myself just wanting to get the car loaded and leave.
Suddenly, the calvary came... IN DROVES!
I couldn't help but watch it as it unfolded in front of me.
At least a dozen birds came swooping in from the sky, and surrounded the mini van. One little bird seemed to be talking to his distressed friend, quite the conversation it sounded. I began wondering what he was saying... "It's ok Paul... ITS OK!!!! We heard your cries and we are here buddy, hang in there!" Even as I walked by the mini van to put my empty cart back in the nearest "corral", the birds NEVER left.
I noticed on my way back over to my car, that SOMEHOW, the heroic friend was able to SCOOT the distressed bird out to the open lot... the distressed bird's cry now silent. Suddenly, without warning, BOTH birds spread their little bird wings and FLEW AWAY, followed by the entourage.
Now at this point, I had NOOOO idea what was initially "wrong" with the distressed little bird under the mini van- I must have been incorrect about it's wing since it managed to fly away. I wondered if maybe he had been stuck in something?
But what I did know is that I witnessed a beautiful occurance in nature. A band of tiny little warriors, hearing the sound of a fellow species in need, and came to the calling. I remember thinking initially that, even if this little distressed bird is dying, he wasn't going to die alone. He would have his posse there to guide him to the light. But the fact that somehow Baby Wren MD was schooled in the art of "wing" repair, what I thought would be a terrible end to my day turned out to be the awakening that I needed!
First day of Spring indeed! I'm suddenly enjoying the beauty that is the cherry blossom trees in my fair city. The smells of grass and flowers. The beautiful sights of young children riding their bikes and playing hopscotch in front of their homes.
Now watch it fucking snow.
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