Water is Liquid and Other Spring Realizations

Those of you who live in the warmer climates would look at the title of this post and wonder about my sanity. Yes, I know that even those who don’t live in warmer climates ponder my claim to sanity, but I’m sure our warmer friends would consider the opening statement as somewhat bizarre, even coming from me. But, I would remind them that in this part of the country, wild, outside water is solid for the better part of three months and we tend to forget, by the time the end of February rolls around, that water is really runny.

The solid water, snow and ice, has been piling up since December until we all were beginning to wonder if it would ever realize it has overstayed its welcome and leave. Finally, it has taken the many hints we have been dropping at every opportunity and has decided to make a hasty retreat, running down the street and disappearing into the storm drains.

As I drove back to work this afternoon, I stopped for just a second to admire the sun shining off the tiny ripplets in the improvised creek streaming around the icebergs and glaciers that adorn our street, on its way to the ocean or the sewage treatment plant, which ever comes first. And this water didn’t even have the hydrocarbon rainbow that is usually associated with gutter water. It was just ordinary, regular, semi-transparent water that one usually sees in the mountains, cascading around fallen trees and rocks. It was beautiful to see - a life changing experience. Alright, maybe not life changing, but certainly mood altering. Who needs drugs when all you have to do is experience melting snow on a nice, near spring day after a miserable Idaho winter? I am euphoric now, almost giddy at the mere glimpse of runny, soft, liquid water. All of the time in the Sixties and the excesses that accompanied that decade can’t compare to the amazing mood alteration that is spring in Idaho.

I feel sorry for those living in the warm climates who have nothing more to look forward to at this time of year other than more nice warm weather. Here in Idaho, we flirt with insanity every winter, nearing the abyss of utter, complete, depression. A complete hopelessness of spirit, doubting that spring will ever come and knowing the darkness will continue forever until we are completely mad. And then, we have a day like today, and we again come to the realization that water is liquid, life is good, and we will again see the sun and the ground and dirt and grass and worms and flies and all manner of insects, two of each kind.......wait, I’ve become biblical here.

And now, all that remains is for a few more days like today to string together and....yes!....we have summer!!! Could we hope for something as great as that? Sure, why not?