Springtime in Seattle. The winter wasn’t all that wet, really, or all that cold. But for many months now, it’s been sufficiently wet, and – for its now being May, for god’s sake – insufficiently warm.
But today, they say, we’ll reach 70 degrees. Outside, packs of kids wander through downtown in shorts and shirt sleeves (but why aren’t they in school?). The sky is blue, the sun is warm, and -- even downtown -- the air is fresh with scent of flowers and sea tang. Seagulls hover in the breeze, crying out their urgent sea calls, frantic to describe foreign ports they've known. Or they stalk about the sidewalks like sharp-eyed, pompous, gray-and-white-garbed attorneys, exuding self-importance. Even the panhandlers seem mellowed out, smiling as you pass by without leaving them a penny.
Being alive today seems most excellent, and well worth the long winter wait.
We moved into new offices about three weeks ago. Not everything about our new digs seems better – for example, we dropped down from the 12th floor in our old building to the 5th floor here. But the view! I look out over Elliott Bay, and beyond, out into the Sound, watching the green and white Washington State ferries moving in and out of their piers, their paths crossing each other, coming and going, in the bay. I’m hypnotized, hard put to focus on my computer screen and stacks of papers.
Beyond the Sound loom the white peaks of the Olympics, reminding me of summer trails as yet un-hiked, and mountain goats, and rocky ridges unexplored. Of millions of small animal forms emerging from hibernation, of tens of millions of their youngsters, tasting with delight their first spring in the Olympics.
Back to work. Work for an afternoon, looking forward to a long, warm evening ahead. Even thoughts of pushing a lawn mower around the yard now feel sensual and life-affirming – allowing me to unite myself in labor with Nature’s spring gift of abundant and exuberant growth.
But today, they say, we’ll reach 70 degrees. Outside, packs of kids wander through downtown in shorts and shirt sleeves (but why aren’t they in school?). The sky is blue, the sun is warm, and -- even downtown -- the air is fresh with scent of flowers and sea tang. Seagulls hover in the breeze, crying out their urgent sea calls, frantic to describe foreign ports they've known. Or they stalk about the sidewalks like sharp-eyed, pompous, gray-and-white-garbed attorneys, exuding self-importance. Even the panhandlers seem mellowed out, smiling as you pass by without leaving them a penny.
Being alive today seems most excellent, and well worth the long winter wait.
We moved into new offices about three weeks ago. Not everything about our new digs seems better – for example, we dropped down from the 12th floor in our old building to the 5th floor here. But the view! I look out over Elliott Bay, and beyond, out into the Sound, watching the green and white Washington State ferries moving in and out of their piers, their paths crossing each other, coming and going, in the bay. I’m hypnotized, hard put to focus on my computer screen and stacks of papers.
Beyond the Sound loom the white peaks of the Olympics, reminding me of summer trails as yet un-hiked, and mountain goats, and rocky ridges unexplored. Of millions of small animal forms emerging from hibernation, of tens of millions of their youngsters, tasting with delight their first spring in the Olympics.
Back to work. Work for an afternoon, looking forward to a long, warm evening ahead. Even thoughts of pushing a lawn mower around the yard now feel sensual and life-affirming – allowing me to unite myself in labor with Nature’s spring gift of abundant and exuberant growth.
Springtime in Seattle. Nowhere else on earth I’d rather be.
3 comments:
Blah! It's 95 in LA today and miserable! The hillside behind my office is on fire. Pretty, but definitely not good. But seriously, I very muched enjoyed that post:)
Tawny!! Howdy! Thanks so much, it's so great to have fans. :)) You gotta come up and enjoy a Seattle weekend sometime. And I'll see you down there in 2 1/2 weeks!
And I just gave you your first profile view! Now you have to write a blog since you actually opened an account.
Post a Comment