Spring has sprung

It happened. Spring commenced to start to begin just a week after we changed our clocks. March is going out like a lamb and truthfully I don't remember how it came in. The old adage is "If March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb and vice versa."

I don't keep records on such matters but the spring equinox made me think about the word spring and how we use it in our communications.

Spring is of course a season. I wonder why this time of the year is called spring. Fall is fall because the leaves fall, as does the temperature. Spring? Is it because plants suddenly emerge and seem to spring up?

A spring is also a source of water. The farm where I grew up was established in its location and a house was built there because there was a stream of water running out of the hillside. As I take a mental journey around the area, all of the farms had a spring as their water source.

People who are feeling great and in an ebullient mood are said to have a spring in their step. They walk briskly, smile freely and exhibit a pleasant attitude. More people seem to have a spring in their step in the spring. Coincidence? I think not.

BW and I turn our mattress at the beginning of every quarter to extend its useful life. Many mattresses and most of the box springs that hold them have a device inside them that we call springs. Springs are made of wire that is fashioned in a coil that when stood on their ends provide support for weary sleepers.

There is another use of the word spring and its past tense sprung. Many times as my dad and I tried to repair a piece of equipment or assemble something and it just didn't quite fit he would say, "Spring that a little bit and make it work." Spring meant bend it or twist it. Or if the part would not fit he would say, "That thing is sprung so bad it will never work." Then he might say, "Take this hammer and hit it a time or two and make it go in there."

The Indy Zoo is developing a cheetah run in the plains biome. Cheetahs are large cats that are very quick and fast. It is said they can go from standing to 60 mph in three seconds. Few cars can do that. They spring at prey so they can feed themselves and if you were to venture into their area they will spring upon you and have you for lunch.

Life is often depicted as four seasons. Winter is old age. Babies and the very young are said to be in the spring of life; new, emerging, just beginning.

One last use of the word. This may be passé or not used as frequently as in the past but I have heard it many times and used it. Often when people go out for a meal or to get a DQ a generous benefactor says, "Let's go out to eat, I'll spring for it."

Spring has sprung. Some of our 15 clocks are still an hour off.

Larry grew up north of Calvertville on a farm and graduated from Worthington High School. He lives in Plainfield and can be reached at Goosecrick@aol.com or (317) 839-7656. Write him at Larry Vandeventer 6860 Sunrise Drive, Plainfield, Ind., 46168. He has written five books.