The Hills Come Alive With a Breathtaking Panorama of Joy

DEP Spring Contest: “How spring inspires you”

The New York winters of my childhood seemed to hang around forever. Imagine the joy I felt when melting snow ran in rivulets down my mountainside. I was free to roam my woods with my mongrel dog. He was as excited as I was to discover the newness of life. I laughed at his antics as he explored decaying logs and overturned rocks. Scurrying insects caused him to leap in astonishment.

Every stroll was filled with wonder and adventure. I never knew what mysteries I would find. Wildflowers would peek through rotted leaves, responding to the sun’s warmth. My brothers and I plucked buttercups and held them under our chins. A yellow reflection was proof we liked butter.

“The earth laughs in flowers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Daisies and Queen Anne’s lace flourished by the sides of our dirt road. I would make daisy chains and wear a crown in my hair. Pale Indian pipes were a rare sight. They thrilled me to no end. Small clusters of yellow butter and eggs made me hungry.

One time I found a green gelatinous mass in a roadside ditch. Tiny dots were visible inside. I carried it home in a plastic bag filled with some of the water. I placed it in an aquarium in my bedroom. Gradually the dots developed into tiny tadpoles. I fed them fish food. Soon they grew arms and legs. The tails disappeared. When they climbed onto a large rock above water level, I moved them to my bedspread. I loved to see the little amphibians hopping about. I moved them to the creek below our mountain when they matured.

I was fascinated by the wide variety of song birds flitting about. Many built nests in tree branches and lay eggs. I quietly observed the hatchlings when they appeared. They kept both parents busy feeding insects and grubs. After they left the nest, their parents would continue to feed them. “How silly, they’re as big as you are.” I didn’t know this was a natural behavior at the time.

I never developed a fear of snakes. They would slither through the underbrush in search of food. Most were garter snakes. A few were black. They didn’t harm me. Most tried to hide when I passed.

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” William Shakespeare

My forest provided a home for squirrels, raccoons, skunks, possums, and chipmunks. They were my neighbors and wild friends. Whitetail deer lived in the woods. The spotted fawns were so cute. If I chanced upon a nest, I left them alone.

Once I saved a box turtle mired in the mud. There had been frequent storms and rainwater settled in ruts on our road. I spied a yellow and black object buried beside a rut. I thought it was pretty, so started digging to free it. Imagine my surprise when I extracted a turtle. The shell was clamped shut. I carried it home to our tent.

We went shopping shortly afterward. When we returned, the turtle was gone. We searched everywhere. I cried because I wanted it for a pet. But that following Spring, a box turtle visited me when I sat on a log. I talked to it at length. It cocked its head and listened to my voice. I felt it was the turtle I had saved. After a while, it turned around and disappeared into the woods.

Leopard frogs would leap clear of the puddles when disturbed. My brothers made a game of catching them. They were slippery in your grasp and hopped to safety.

The dogwoods would bloom with white flowers that covered the entire tree. They never failed to impress me with their beauty. White birch trees had black markings on their trunks. I would imagine all kinds of familiar shapes that they might represent. When I wanted a taste of mint, there were black birch trees to please my craving. I’d break a tiny twig, chew on it and a delightful flavor would burst in my mouth. Better than chewing gum, I think.

No matter how depressed my life might appear when young. The arrival of Spring never failed to uplift my spirit. Its presence in many forms always sent a message of hope. Spring inspired me to keep on living my life and create new goals. After all, the myriad aspects of Nature didn’t give up. My childhood memories of Spring sustain me to this day. That is why it is my favorite season.

“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” — Lady Bird Johnson

This is my response to “How spring inspires me” suggested by DR Rawson - The Possibilist.

My sincere gratitude to the editors of DEP for taking me down memory lane. Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Dr. Preeti Singh, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, and Annelise Lords.

Please read this poem by Dr. Preeti Singh which captures the essence of Spring and what nature has to offer.

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles has written a lovely poem about where to find JOY.