ode to spring

I have become a connoisseur of spring: the only slightly chilly breeze, the buds on trees, the fact that I can't see through barren trees so easily to see the lake and the road, the fact that I've put up my heavy black winter coat that I hate passionately, the SUN.. I've never in my life been so aware of spring. Chalk it up to always having lived somewhere warm-ish and this being my first real experience with real cold and snow. When I left Metz in February to embark on the big two week holiday, I told myself that spring would arrive when I got back. So, on the first Monday back, when I was taking a walk around the lake, I scrutinized the bare bushes, hoping, praying, basically begging buds to be there. I saw a few little dots on the ends of branches that could potentially become buds on a couple of bushes, but for the most part, winter was still lingering. But I found hope in those tiny maybe-buds and I reassured myself that spring would come soon. So every couple of days after that first March walk, I would scrutinize just about every plant, bush, or tree that I came across to see if buds were appearing. The snow we had my first weekend back did not help things, but I told myself that these buds were tough and could survive, and that spring was inevitable, and so I felt better. And, those tough little buds did survive. Last week, they appeared to be a little more numerous, and bigger? Or was it just my eyes? Or was I willing them to be bigger.. who knows. I guess not because as I walked to the lake today, I saw BABY LEAVES!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm elated.. sitting here in my room with the window open watching the sunset -- this is the life. I have convinced myself that I'm just going to wake up one morning someday soon and that spring will have sprung, kind of like in that scene in The Secret Garden when it literally shows the flowers opening. It will be glorious! Pictures coming!