An Open Letter to Spring

Dear Spring,

You’re not too far off now! I know you’re coming soon, because every day I see another hint of you, another little clue telling me you’re just around the corner. Yesterday, I could have sworn you were here. The sunshine was warm on my skin, and there was a soft breeze playing with my hair. Campus was alive with people crawling out of the shells of their coats and boots to take to the grass with soccer balls, the courts with basketballs, the picnic tables with sandwiches and a friend. It was beautiful, Spring, just like you.

Your frigid older brother is still holding on, of course. According to my calendar, his time isn’t up yet, and we both know that he’ll try to stick around for as long as he can. The app on my phone tells me not to put away my sweaters just yet and to hold on to my gloves, because I’ll be needing them soon when Winter reasserts himself.

But it won’t be for long, because I know you, Spring. I know you creep in slowly before being here to stay. You tease me with pretty yellow days before giving me the warmth to match. You bring back the birds, reacquaint me with their cheery songs, before giving them places to hide among budding trees. You turn the grass soft and green once more before gifting me with sweet-smelling rainbows of wildflowers. You give me subtle signs right under Winter’s nose that his time is almost up, that you’re waiting in the wings to thaw me and bring the world back to life.

Your arrival is eagerly awaited, Spring. Now that I know you’re on your way, it’s difficult to be patient, because when you come, you give me some of the best things in life. You give me freshness, a sense of rebirth that New Years can only dream of. You give me longer, brighter days fit for adventures, for staying out a little bit later, for exploring a little bit more. You give me beauty around every corner. You give me happiness, lightness, the freedom of bare legs in pastel sun dresses, of the windows rolled down and the radio up, of road trips. You give me the sweetness of frozen yogurt, of a good pop tune, of ditching my shoes in favor of the cool grass beneath my feet. You give me the warmth of the sun kissing my face during the day, and then the sweet chill of nighttime that makes me sit just a little bit closer to the ones I love.

You are the season that slowly awakens me, that entices me out of my hiding place to greet the world once more. You remind me of the good things in life. You lift my spirits, and you make me excited. When you arrive, Spring, I begin to anticipate. I anticipate the end of the year when I can set aside my books for a bit and breathe. I anticipate that first ice cream cone, sticky-sweet and dripping on my fingers. I anticipate the summer and its hazy, orange-tinted days. I anticipate vacation, relaxation.

I anticipate happiness because you, Spring, are practically synonymous with it. So bring me your flowers, your butterflies, your warm rainy days, your clouds, your wind, your birds and trees and squirrels and bees. Bring me that feeling when the world is new again and anything is possible.

Take your time, Spring, but please hurry up. I can’t wait to greet you.

Love,
A girl waiting on sunshine