Harbingers of spring

There are several characteristics that all humans possess. One of the strongest is the need for variety or change in our lives. It seems that humans are always waiting on change.

I don't know about you but I am ready for a change. I am ready for spring. There are many signs that spring is on the way. The final after Christmas sale is on at the mall. The signs shout Now save up to 80% off the original price! I always wonder about those sales. Do retailers mark items up 100% and then give you 80% off and still make 20%? I don't know.

A sure sign of spring is the number of TV commercials of people who want to do my tax returns. Those are followed closely by the merchants who want me to spend my tax return now. They shout, "Don't wait, don't deprive yourself, don't delay your gratification. Get what you want now and pay for it later." That is so American, so capitalistic.

I know spring is really here when the fruitcake is finally all gone. I fed more than half of to that growling monster who lives under the sink. There are certain fruitcakes that are delicious but the rest taste like a piece of rubber from a truck tire cap found along the Interstate.

Television says spring is here when the herbicide and fertilizer ads begin. Don't forget the soft drink ads with nubile youth bouncing around on the beach playing volleyball and throwing Frisbees.

A sure sign of spring is the jewelry that you received for Christmas begins to turn your arm or finger green. And I can finally go out of the house and not wear a heavy coat. What a relief. Another sign is when I step into the house and the furnace is not running. The most reassurance I receive is that finally the television stations quit assigning a reporter to the city garage to stand and endlessly blather about how much salt the city has stored and how many snowplows are ready to roll and hear the mayor assure the public that the streets will be plowed and safe for travel. Give it a rest.

It seems that winters are much longer than when I was younger so spring is one of my four favorite seasons of the year. It is a time when the smell of rain and earth permeates the air as the earth awakens from its winter hibernation. Once again yards and fields turn verdant green as the bald earth has a new growth of hair. The air is redolent with the smell of freshly mowed grass and plowed ground. Bird symphonies tune up and regale my ears with lovely spring concerts. Flowers burst forth in yards and in the woods. Trees join the fashion show as they produce leaves to cover their naked limbs. The real sign of spring is when I notice the sacks of mulch piled around gas stations.

Spring has sprung. I am ready for summer. Bring on the lemonade.

Larry grew up north of Calvertville on a farm and graduated from Worthington High School and Indiana State U. -- four times. He can be reached at Goosecrick@aol.com or 317-839-7656.