scamper

Birds becoming more active in the morning. Squirrels scamper along stone fences and out in the road.  Haven't smelled a skunk yet. That's a sure sign of spring.

March 25, 2008
A couple of revealing moments about life in a cold climate. This morning on our morning walk we ran into Barb, and we all remarked about how it was getting light out. About two minutes later we were walking by the Dufner's house. I heard a high pitched repetitive sound. I couldn't figure out what it was it was. It sounded like maybe a squeaky fan running in their basement. It finally dawned on me what it was. It was a solitary bird, singing to the rising sun. In a few weeks there will be hundreds of them. It has been so long since I heard that sound. It seemed like a miracle!

To a lesser degree, I experienced the same feeling yesterday walking to production. The snow on the front lawn has been receding, and it disappeared completely over the weekend. That which had been covered with snow and invisible for so long was revealed. Again, it seemed like a miracle.

On the one hand, there's something a little pathetic about living in a place where a singing bird is considered a miracle. On the other hand, it's a gift. Complacency is one of the great killers of the joy of living. Living in a cold climate continues to offer opportunities to appreciate and savor the small miracles of life. In many ways that is the heart of this daily journal. Opossum seen along the road in West Rutland last night.