April has arrived and Spring has not. It snows as soon as the melting begins. We look for signs and find a few sprigs of green waiting for warmth. A few days of temps in the 40s allows the ducks to have their first pool in months. Mud season is taking place in our dooryard. Winter boots and coats are still by the kitchen door and the woodstove is still in use. The mail comes and with it joyful news. We celebrate my 44th birthday fabulously. We spy the return of the robins with their happy hopping and rosy bellies. Alex boils down maple sap and now we have jars of amber syrup. All of us go see Sufjan Stevens and Olivia and I sit with tears streaming and throats clenching back sobs. We wait. And wait some more. Anxiety boils. This family shit is hard, hard stuff. Then, most of the snow finally melts and we're out with rakes and using gardening muscles. Dear friends suffer a huge loss and we prepare Mermaid House to shelter them. Finally, we see it. Spring has finally arrived. Comfrey and rhubarb emerge, poking crowns through the still cold soil. We still have firewood left. We survived. We made it through a nearly six-month-long winter. Oh, Spring, we're so happy to see you!
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