Spring Brings Hopes and Dreams

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

7 April 1999

Spring is my favorite time of the year, and although it comes in March, we really don't see it progress much until April.

Once you get by the foolish 1st, spring your clocks forward an hour on that first Sunday morning in April, adjust to that loss of sleep, pay your taxes by the 15th, life starts to get better and better. Really it does.

Some things that are needed done in April at my home are: spraying for crabgrass, fertilizer for the yard, tune-up of the lawn mower, and the air conditioner checked.

April is also a good time to wash and wax the car to clean off winter salt that might cause rust. Touch-up around the doors and trim of your house with paint, check screens and shutters, and inspect driveways and sidewalks after the winter's thawing and freezing.

It's garage and spring housecleaning time. This means washing windows, cleaning closets and drawers, sorting items for yard sales or shelters.

If I'm not interrupted, have lots of help, don't waste a moment, I might be lucky enough to catch some sunrays outside by the end of the month.

This is what I like best.

Working in the yard brings me such pleasure. I have found it takes a lot of time to improve a small area, but it can be good stress therapy. My mother has always loved flowers and so I began creating a few small garden spots for her. The problem is, I caught the flower bug myself and wish I had more time to devote to it.

While I'm dreaming, I would wish for a Gazebo set away from the house, a neat winding flowered path to it, some water fountains and statues, a nice patio and sheltered wall, bird feeders, some roses, and enough time to sit there in a swing or hammock with my feet up reading a good book.

That's what April does. It starts you dreaming like no other month. The spring air puts an extra spring in your step and releases all your senses into an array of possibilities.

I know what you're thinking. I'm having too much fun at my work right now and I should be writing about something more serious. It's hard to get hold of a mind that's on spring break, so the best thing to do is: let it go and enjoy it.

On a more serious note, I've been praying for the victims of Kosovo. I've been hoping that "Adona", the young e-mail friend of the Berkeley students in California shown on CNN, is safe. And although a clean house and flowery yard brings me so much joy, I would give it all up in an instant if it would stop this craziness called War.

Earth Day is to be celebrated April 22nd. Wouldn't it be good if all around the world people would stop and realize that the earth is for all people to live on together, no matter what the race, color, sex, politics, or religion.

It would be great if everyone of us could plant our flowers in peace around the world, and celebrate life as the precious thing it is. Then everyday would seem like spring. Pray for peace.