A DRIZZLY DAY

February seems to be giving in to Spring. It hasn't been below freezing for over twenty four hours. It is 38.3 degrees F at this moment. There is a promise it will get close to 50. Without Sun the snow doesn't melt very fast. It is raining or I should say drizzling. I am eager to see the ground again. It is a little early to lose our snow cover; but hey, it is almost March. Anything can happen in March! I have experienced it being -40F and I have experienced it 80F.

That reminds me of my brother Garth. It brought a momentary sense of sadness, I need to call him for an update. His birthday is March 12. One time, during one of our more lengthy Winters, he said, “the weather is usually warm enough to have a picnic on my birthday.” I could recall all the below zero weather, and snow up to our butts, but not much picnic weather. For years after, I reminded him, on his birthday about his comment, when the weather was Wintry. Then in 1974, we had a stretch of warm weather in early March and Garth and Arlene arranged a picnic, for the family, at Columbia Park. It was a beautiful warm day and the party was a great success. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. In 1949 Spring came in early March and it didn't get cold again.

We could use an early Spring. If Spring is late I will have to buy more hay, but more importantly, I long for the new lush growth and the feeling of the Sun.

Time has been flying for me, but Winter still feels forever. It is hard to remember when we could walk over the whole yard and were not restricted to paths through the snow. We don't have much snow, but it is very tightly packed, and will not melt in a hurry.

Of course, I am more alert for signs of Spring in the world. I see glimmers, of the increasing love in the world, and the folks I meet are certainly waking up; but, the main stream media, it is awful. One would think we are at doomsday's door every time we turn on the television. There are all kinds of indications we are waking up; but we need to look for them. The strongest indication, I see, are the strangers I meet every time I go to town. People greet each other with alacrity and everyone is willing to share a smile or share a joke. There is friendliness and love coming from complete strangers. It is, as if, folks know something, they may not even know they know it; but a new way of being is on the horizon. We don't have to live in fear anymore!

At the same time the love and sense of oneness is increasing, individuals will have moments of struggle. It is time, we lay down our egos. Egos don't like that. They defend our separateness. In our interpersonal relationships, especially the close ones, our unresolved issues are manifesting. Paradoxically, as every thing gets better, conflict may arise in close relationships. All the doubts, we have about ourselves being loving persons, will emerge one way or another. Do we really deserve to live in paradise? Are we really entitled to love? Do we really know what love is?

We need to accept the fact that we are not perfect. We are in the process of growing. We are just discovering the meaning of LOVE. We thought we knew. We have rough edges. Don't get discouraged when your rough edges, collide with the rough edges, of your partner. It will happen! Practice forgiveness as a reflex. Forgive automatically, especially yourself. We will get through this; love will out.

There is a Bright Shining Day! It is almost here! We will have a picnic!

Love and Peace, Gregg