All Depends on Your Perspective...

The first sound I registered this morning (besides Benjamin waking up ready for breakfast) was the sound of cars slush-slushing outside. Weird, I thought, Could it be that warm outside? Instead of slush-slushing, I'm accustomed to hearing the crunch-crunching of cars driving on snow that fell overnight.

"35 degrees! I bet I won't even have to wear a coat today!"

Yes, folks, this was my exclamation this morning upon first checking the temperature outside. After these words came out of my mouth, I just had to laugh... yes, it all depends on your perspective.

You see, I used to live in "the South." Where 35 degrees is still considered cold, and one inch of snow closes schools and workplaces for at least a day ... maybe three. (Not to mention the mad runs to grocery store for milk and bread - and hot chocolate and Little Debbie's ... oops, that was just me?)

But now, I live in "the North" and, well, it's different up here...

- Nothing is ever canceled ... kids stand and wait for the school bus in front of snow banks taller than they are.
- It snows more days than not. It's not even remarkable that it's snowing - it's like saying "Yeah, I'm breathing today."
- Our church is having a retreat on March 6. The name of this retreat? "Late Winter Retreat" Yes, March is still winter and everyone assures me we'll probably have snow on my first Mother's Day...
- When pointing to a weather map covered with radar blips, the weatherman says, "That's, like, a little snow," sounding bored. (I kid you not - that's the exact quote from the weather report a few days ago)

But we've adjusted. I've had several phone conversations with "southern" friends lately that went something like this...

"So, do you have a lot of snow up there?"
"No, not really, we haven't had a big snow for quite a while ... there's just about 6 inches on the ground."
"What? You have six inches of snow on the ground??"
"Yeah," I say calmly, "I can't remember the last time I've seen grass."

My, how times have changed. When you've had over 3 feet of snow on the ground and your husband has driven home from work in a white-out (and negative degree temperatures), your threshold for getting excited about cold and snow changes.

And though we've adjusted well, MY GOLLY, I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING! To see grass, trees... lo, even flowers. To walk outside with my arms showing... lo, even my toes! Oh glory be! So, today, enjoy some pictures of spring. (I realize some of you are experiencing spring where you live already, but just indulge me. Thanks.)

(Just a note - when I first looked at these pictures on the computer monitor, the bright greens hurt my eyes ... that is sad I tell you, SAD. And also for the record, I did not wear a coat today - it was liberating!)