I feel like I’m breathing a different air lately. Late winter, it was getting heavy and stale and, on so many days, I woke to grayness, a foggy light barely peeking past the sheer curtain panels by my bed. In my head, “another day?” I was running out of patience with winter, with myself.
But lately, we’re getting light well into the evening. We’re going outside before naps, after naps. When it turns even warmer, we’ll go out for ice cream after dinner (those are my absolute favorite nights). Leave the dishes, let’s go! We drove by our favorite ice cream place yesterday. Steve said, “It’s open!” Sure enough the sign read like a beacon of hope: Spring is here. Come on in.
Lindsey is already telling me how excited she is for those early Saturday morning bike rides we do. So am I. William’s started track and comes home in the shorts he wore to practice. Mind you, it’s only topping out at about 55 right now, at best, but the resilient teenage boy wears shorts once the snow is gone and don’t tell him otherwise. I don’t. It’s shorts! And shorts means summer and I don’t, won’t, can’t, never will fight signs of summer.
My car read 63° yesterday. The car was sitting on the hot driveway but I saw it, my eyes grew large, and what did I do? What any human living in the Northeast (or Minnesota, poor Minnesota, getting feet of snow as we speak) would do. I took a picture and texted it to my family. Wide-eyed emoticon face accompanied it. No words necessary.
Steve and I were running errands yesterday and on the way home I asked him to stop by our favorite farm stand for steak tips and string beans. This dinner signals summer. It’s not that steak or string beans is a particularly summer thing but I never make it in the winter. And as we’re out and about, we run into people we know, familiar faces that we’ve seen less, coming out of coffee shops and they all these telltale smiles on their faces. We’re all coming out of hibernation. It feels so damn good, I can’t even describe it.
Meghan Mella says
Here in Sweden we are also just getting to the 50s, which means the outdoor tables are appearing everywhere (and they are often fully occupied)!
dustofafrica says
I made my daughter wear a jacket yesterday before I got in the car and saw 64*. Her little face just lit up when I took that jacket off. Spring.
bridget says
seriously. these poor kids are so over being bundled and i can't blame them.
Becky says
I couldn't agree moooooore! I know warm days are ahead when I smell hot dogs/sausages grilling from the street vendor on Copley as I leave my office for the day. they're back! and soon (my most favorite thing) the Copley farmers market will be back, too – then it's really official 🙂
bridget says
oh I love that visual (smell?). farmer's markets! bbqs!
it's really been a hard winter, hasn't it?
Tiffany Kadani says
Like a novel. I love your writing.
bridget says
thank you so much, tiffany! you're good to me.
Emily Baker says
ugh, it was really rough here in boston. walking around the city in the winter makes me want to crawl under a rock.
Michaela Jean says
Aw enjoy the Spring post Winter! I am not so secretly envious of your seasons. Everything is upside down in Santa Barbara right now, we had a winter full of heat waves and rain/the cold (which for us is the low 60s) this Spring. West coast weather needs to seriously figure its sh*t out.
xo
Michaela
http://michaelajeanblog.com
Allyssa @ Lovely Allyssum says
I live in California, too, and the weather is SOOOO bipolar, isn't it? What's up with all this rain, then sunny, then cold, then hot, but freezing cold in the evening? so weird!
katecooks says
Your words about spring explain exactly why I moved to California — three months of "winter" and then nine months of sun/late nights/wine on the porch/barbecues/beach/driving with the windows open — I love every minute of it! Seriously, is there anything better than warmth and sunshine and lazy summer days? They make me so happy 🙂
Fingers crossed that winter is behind you!!
Kat says
Haha-near the end of your post, I thought "it's like her town is coming out of hibernation" and then read your second to last sentence 🙂 So happy Spring is on the way! Maybe you should consider moving to warmer climates 😉
bridget says
i know — usually i can handle the winter better, but this one was brutal!
Allyssa @ Lovely Allyssum says
I'm so glad you're getting better weather! I was wondering when it was going to start warming up over there! Hoping spring continue's to come your way!
Emily Torgerson says
Yes, MN has been brutal. 7 inches where I live yesterday. But there is talk of 60s later this week. We are hopeful. Oh, and I keep buying Trader Joe's tulips, that helps a little bit.
RobynC says
So ready for summer and some summer moccasins!!!https://m.facebook.com/wanderlustmoccasins
Amanda @ Speculating Jokebird says
I just adore you and I know you love CO and just a little insider info on winter in Colorado, it's the most chill winter ever, while still experiencing winter of course. Oh and we have Vail and Aspen and Telluride, please visit Telluride! You will die and go to mountain village heaven!
Jennifer says
Being home with a newborn I can't wait for the warmer weather so we can be out and go for walks outside! Yes spring in MA.
Alyson McMahon says
We're experiencing the same thing here in Milwaukee! It feels SO good to let in some fresh, albeit crisp air from outdoors. Winter was long and harsh this year, and I'm hoping that it'll make all of us savor spring and summer and warm air that much more!
Mary says
I live outside of Boston as well, and YES I agree. This time of year is frustrating, because the weather teases so much, but coming out of hibernation, truly enjoying each of the pleasures that nature throws our way…it's beautiful.
So happy I discovered your blog. It's beautiful. You have a new follower!