From Where I Sit

By Pat Spilseth, Columnist

This week we took a new route of back roads driving out west to Glenwood and Kensington. It couldn’t have been a lovelier day of sunshine and mild spring temperatures in the 50s. Fields were waiting to be mowed and planted; trees were budding. Cardinals, robins and red-winged blackbirds were singing and puffy clouds were bouncing across the sky.

In parks and fields wildflowers were sprouting and their colorful blooms lightened my heart…I couldn’t stop smiling. Each spring I love seeing the tiny blue hyacinths, May flowers and trout lilies which still grow in clumps in the park of my old neighborhood. Soon Solomon Seal and Bellwort will appear in the woods.       

I miss walking through the park enjoying the smells and views with Buddy, my inquisitive Beagle who passed much too soon. I’ll have to walk the new trails near our condo where we just moved.

It felt so good to be outdoors enjoying spring’s finest weather!

I love spying Dutchman’s Breeches and Hepatica sprouting deep in the woods. Tiny purple and white violets peek through the  dried out tall grass not cut from last fall. It’s only late April but spring has sprung its magic on lawns and parks in Minnesota. Sun’s sunny warmth has already encouraged tulips and daffodils to sprout their cheery blossoms.

The spring day reminded me of the hope I have for living good years in the new home we’ve moved to. I hope to enjoy life as a senior citizen as much as I enjoyed living by the lake and raising our two children. We’re meeting new people with different ideas and conversations. Although the talk amongst us seniors is often of health issues, it’s mixed with hearing new stories of the lives of neighbors and trying out different activities like Mahjong and walking new trails.

Like the changing seasons, our lives keep changing.

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To contact Pat, email: pat.spilseth@gmail.com.