Ask the Readers By Carla Slavey
What is your favorite
SPRING activity ?
There ’ s a musical version of the children ’ s classic “ The Wind in the Willows ” that has an opening number celebrating spring .
“ Our senses are heightened ./ There ’ s magic occurring ./ Wherever you turn / Watch the countryside stirring .”
Spring means a return of life . Of warmer breezes and greening hills .
For me , it ’ s also a time for pollen and seasonal allergies , of doing too much yard work and pulling muscles , and of being reminded of how out of shape I am because I was curled up in a blanket on the couch all winter . But I try not to dwell on that .
Every year , I have high hopes of getting my yard into shape , of starting that garden or of spring cleaning the house to get it spic and span before summertime gets here . And every year , it turns out that spring is too short for me to finish my long to-do list .
Yes , spring , like its sibling fall , is woefully too short . The temperature hits that Goldilocks spot of being not too hot and not too cold . The length of the days splits the difference between the cave-like darkness that winter keeps and the why-isit still-bright-outside summer evenings that prevent me from winding down and going to bed .
And knowing it is a short season makes it all the more reason why we tend to pack in as much as we can .
When we asked our readers what their favorite spring activities were , it came as no surprise that spring sports , camping , gardening and just enjoying nature were at the top of the list .
Spring is an outdoor activity , that much is certain .
36 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky March 2023