Spring has certainly been in the air lately, with temperatures stabilizing near zero degrees during the day, I’m sure many northern Albertans are anxious to see some green grass.
Honestly though, as excited as I am that the melting snow and warmer temperatures means spring is coming, I often find myself dreading this time of the year. After coming home with wet feet following a couple hours working outside the other day, I remembered why I really don’t like spring.
The puddles and mud really get to me. I’m definitely not a neat freak, but there’s something about the awkward stage between winter boots and sandals that bothers me. I don’t really remember if I liked this time of the year as a child even. I have distinct memories of building snow forts in piles of snow in the middle of winter, and distinct memories spending hours outside in the summer, along with memories of jumping in piles of leave in the fall, yet the spring memories evade me.
The only strong spring memories I have growing up relate to Easter and either being disappointed that we would be searching for our baskets in the snow and mud at home, near St. Paul. Or searching for our melting chocolate in the hot sun in my grandma’s yard in Calgary, which I always felt was the more attractive option.
Having wet feet, trekking through mud, and always having to ask yourself if you should wear a winter jacket outside only to tear if off an hour later as you’re sweating in the sun, just isn’t enjoyable to me. I realized as I was thinking about my dislike for early spring that it sort of reminds me of being pregnant (and I was a pretty unhappy pregnant person), and the process that’s involved.
The first trimester is exciting, just like spring. The first time the thermometer hits zero, we rejoice.
But, as time progresses, I realize that, just like pregnancy, spring is not a very comfortable season. You never know what to wear (again, just like being pregnant), and as you move through the season, your comfort level gets worse, sometimes you even get a rude freak snowstorm in the middle of April, just to keep things interesting.
Thankfully, there’s always that hope that at the end, you will be warmly rewarded.
As the snow finally all melts away and things start to dry up, the feeling of summer relief grows (just like the anticipation of getting to hold your baby for the first time). Then suddenly, one day, usually unexpectedly (just like labour) you realize that spring really has sprung, the trees have turned green, and summer arrives.
I’ll admit, I don’t think I could ever live somewhere that didn’t have four very distinct seasons. I do love Alberta weather, as unpredictable as it is. I really believe that having a stretch of +30 degrees in the summer and -30 degrees in the winter makes me more aware of Mother Nature and how amazing she is.
And just like a having baby, when summer finally comes, I’m sure there will be moments that prove difficult, such as my husband complaining about the heat when it’s finally above 20 degrees, or the very first sunburn of the season, but in the end, you can’t help but love it.
