Spring? Can it Be?

Just when you think you’ll be content to sleep forever because the gray never ends, buds pop out on trees and daffodils sprout, shaking you out of your winter coma. In this netherworld between freezing and basking in the warm glow of the sun lives March.

Although I’ll miss the bear-like cave I’ve created with blankets on my bed, I’ve loved feeling the sun on my face. I no longer have to wait at 3 a.m. for Topper, who stands helplessly frozen in place, trying to figure out where to do his business. He finally sees the grass he spent last summer and fall destroying and is happily leaving his mark again.

The UGG boots will go away soon and I’ll retire the long underwear, but not yet. I’m still a wimp from years in sunny Southern California. Eventually, I’ll have to come face to face with what the lack of exercise has done to my former waistline…but, thank God, not yet.

To round out my winter, I’ve done my taxes, talked to a financial planner (could you hear the screams?) and have been trying to figure out the very best chocolate cake recipe. I have a couple of contenders with Hershey’s being surprisingly good, but I’m not done experimenting yet. There’s a recipe the New York Times Food section raves about, so I’ll have to try it. I promise to share my favorite when I’m done.

I’ve also been listening to the news and praying for the poor Ukrainians. I keep hoping the Russian soldiers will just say no. Imagine if soldiers just said, “No, I’m not going to kill anyone for you and your misplaced dreams of conquest.” But that’s not how life works and soldiers are trained to follow orders for a reason.

To soothe myself, I’ve taken to watching reruns of Poldark on Amazon. If you’re an English period drama lover, it’s one of the best shows ever. There’s love, jealousy, revenge, duels, arranged marriages, war, treachery, lots of angst-filled rides back and forth across spectacular Bodman Moor in Cornwall England. If you like hopelessly gorgeous people dealing with life’s challenges, and well-muscled shirtless men, this could be your show. It’s gotten me through March and that’s no small feat.

I wish you bright sunshine, excellent Lenten fish sandwiches, (if you’re in Pittsburgh, Wholey’s in the Strip District has a great one) flowers, green grass and peace on earth. Especially, peace on earth.