It has been such a strange spring that I am loath to
announce that it (spring) is finally here. In fact I somehow suspect that we
have gone from a state of very early spring- still almost winter to late spring-
almost summer in a handful of days. I am not complaining but it does feel as if
we have missed at least part of a season. However as the long term forecast
suggest that 11 degrees will be the average temperature for the next week or so
- perhaps I am being overly optomistic. Still I don't think that this year I
will experience spring fever this year. Pity.
I am however ready to travel west. I have a bit of
administrative clean up to do at work but by tomorrow noon I will be out of
school and I won't be back until September. I can feel the start of that gentle
pull to be on the road; I have started thinking of spots that I have stood before
and to wonder if I will stand there again this year. I can see in my mind
street corners I will need to get to so that I can catch a city bus to the
outskirts of Winnipeg or Calgary or Vancouver. I can, without even thinking
about it, see the highway stretching out before me at Portage La Prairie, Medicine
Hat, Canmore, or Salmon Arms. I remember the stories of previous drivers; unbidden
I find myself repeating my story to make sure I have not forgotten any part of
it. Yes I am ready to be on the road again and it feels good to be in that state
of anticipation and nervousness.
I have made a commitment to be at the Peterborough farmer's
Market for most Saturdays in May and June. I have lots of weaving to sell and I find myself looking forward to
meeting new customers (especially the kids who have never seen a spinning wheel
and the seniors who start of the conversation with "I can remember my
mother doing that when I was young").
But in spite of my enthusiasm for being at the Market - I almost regret
making that commitment. If I didn't have to sell stuff I could head out west in
a few weeks.................
I know I should feel blessed that I have such wonderful choices
- and I do.
