Spring

"Spring has sprung, the grass is riz
I wonder where the birdies is?
Tis spring, the bird is on the wing!
But that's absoid, I thought D' wing was on d' boid! "

This was one of my grandfathers favourite poems. Most people love spring and the reawakening of nature. The birds are flying north, trees are budding, fresh sprigs of greenery. Sounds great, right?

The first day of spring! Yeah right! Here in the 'Peg it's more like the first official day of "pot hole" season. Drivers curse them - with good reason as they can do major damage to a vehicle. But, they aren't much fun for pedestrians either - especially us blinks!

By fall we had figured out where all the dips, dives, rises and obstacles were in our regular journeys. Along comes winter and things change with every snowfall and plowing.

Then comes spring and it's a whole new game! With every thaw, freeze and thaw, our landscape changes. New holes, cracks, dips and rises appear on a daily basis. The snow is melting and what looks like a puddle may be deep enough to require hip waders or have black ice under the water. And let's not forget that slippery sludge of leftover decomposing fall leaves, sand, dirt and melted snow that can cause hydro-planing at a moments notice. Are we having fun yet?

Most of the snow has melted and a number of sidewalks are almost dry - but this doesn't mean anything in these parts! It is very rare that we don't get one last great winter blast/snowfall from Mother Nature in late March or early April! It usually hits right around the time the last of the Snowbirds (travellers) are returning home from their winter getaways. I have always considered this as Mother Nature's revenge, because they tried to escape winter and that those of us who stay (by choice or circumstance) are just innocent victims.

I'd swear that at least half the intersections and bus stops in this city are located near dips in the road or drainage grates. You stand at a corner waiting to cross or waiting for a bus and there is a mini lake right in front of you. Most drivers will slow down - BUT - there are those who see this as a sport! "Let's see how big of a splash I can make as I drive by that person! Hey wait, they have a white cane - that means they can't see my license plate - even better! Pedal to the metal!"

Odds are your license plate was already covered with mud and nobody can see it anyway (that is against the law isn't it?), but hey, if that's your idea of fun then I hope your axle takes a nice direct hit on that pot hole just ahead. No hard feelings, okay?

Ah, the joys of spring! Oh well, summer's right around the corner, right? Yup, here in the 'Peg we call that construction season and it lasts through the first few snowfalls next fall.

Why do I feel like a hamster on a wheel?

"Spring has sprung, the grass has ris’,
I wonder where the birdie is?
There he is up in the sky,
He dropped some whitewash in my eye!
I‘m alright, I won't cry,
I'm just glad that cows can't fly! "

dn