HELLO UP THERE

Spring is here, about three months early; here it is well into the third week of January at our relatively high elevation and it’s like May. Hasn’t snowed yet, the shiitake are bulging as though they have an imminent agenda, the forsythia buds are swelling in rather a hurry, as though metaphorically running for a train; the jinchoge is reddening fast also, practically saying I'm late, I'm late, for a very important etc.

I can practically lay on the deck in my shorts; the thermal boots and snow tires and firewood are looking clunky and quaint, the vegetables appear to be expecting summer this afternoon or maybe tomorrow, the frogs are quietly looking at their watches, I heard a warbler sing, I had to stand there and spread my arms and shout “WAIT A MINUTE!” to the universe at large, as I am wont to do, though not often in public, but does anything listen? No-o-o-o.

Here I am, all by myself trying to get nature back on track and winter in the icy groove, but it’s too big a job for just one man waving his arms and making cosmic gestures; we have to get together on this. Anybody up there listening?