Spring, Not Sprung

Dear Maria,

Well, the crape myr-deristas have been out and about around town. But so are tulip trees and some azaleas and a few redbuds. I have my annual forearm wound from cutting back the roses and so all is well. The lantana are clipped to the ground, some rogue stems on the ligustrums are gone, and the winter weed patch is in its full glory. All good.

I want to say I smell spring in the air, but I easily get ahead of the calendar this time of year. But March is not so far away, and that sounds like a spring month around here. Good enough for me.

Soon, I’ll spike the trees, and then feed the shrubs and roses. Not much planting this season. A few plants to be moved. Some stone to be placed in a few spots—especially at the corner of the driveway and front walk. The driveway is narrow and I put in a few plants that are too close and so must amend for my mistake.

Max and I are taking longer walks in the morning and afternoon—yes, two-a-days after I let him hit 105 pounds.

Can’t remember if I told you I have switched over to using a credit card nearly full time—that cash rewards thing. Big excitement was cashing in $100 this month. I applied it all toward book orders. I know it doesn’t matter which items I redeemed, so to speak, but I took more pleasure in the notion that I got free books.

Yes, I know, all in my mind.

Hard to believe that in a few months I will have been out of the classroom three years. Of course, those colleagues still there do not have the same sense of few that I do. More rarely now am I asked about retirement—guess it is a clearly established fact.

I still answer “Nothing” when asked what I am up to, and then if the conversation stays on topic, I go with “A lot of reading and a little writing”. Most folks have given up on me living out their retirement fantasy—traveling, fishing, starting a new business.

One friend still suggests from time to time that I must be bored. Uh, that would be a firm “No” to be followed by a laugh. About all that I can add to the subject is that if I knew then what I know now, I would have saved more deliberately to have been able to retire sooner.

But, I live as a monk—unaffiliated, with windows and indoor plumbing, heating and cooling, and the internet, so continue to ignore my musings.

There, enough. And I didn’t mention what took place in South Carolina yesterday.

Be well, take some time for yourself outdoors, and hug the kids.

Yours, of course, srk