Have you been looking for spring this year as much as I have?

I, for some reason, am reminded of a children’s book I used to read a lot to my grandchildren written by R.D. Eastman entitled “Are You My Mother?”

The book takes a child on a journey with a baby bird that was dropped from a nest and separated from its mother at birth. The bird begins looking for its mother.

The bird would continue on a strange mission trying to find out where and who its mother was. He had to ask many times if something or someone was its mother.

I remember asking the kids, “I wonder who and where his mother is?”

They would innocently say, “I don’t know.”

I thought of it today when I was wondering where spring was this year. I do not know, but I did.

I feel like the children when I hear the question this year, “Where is spring?’ I am thinking to myself, “I don’t know.”

I am tempted to start asking the question, “Are you spring?”

Spring arrived in March and you just think the weather should start behaving itself once spring arrives. Somehow, Mother Nature has not received the memo when it comes to the weather.

Other than two or three warm weather days, spring has disappeared, it seems, as fast as it arrived.

How often do you see nearly 50 degree drops in temperatures, after all? It just is not right! Right?

Usually, I start getting excited as soon as I see the daffodils and tulips in bloom. It seemed years ago when they were in bloom, we would see prettier days and weather more quickly than we have been lately. This did happen, didn’t it?

I am beginning to doubt my memory and wondering if my mind is getting foggier as I am aging.

I am sitting here saying to myself, “no you are not going crazy. By the middle of April, warmer weather and sunshiny days were happening and the threat of snow was not in the picture.”

I think it is like winter and spring are fighting it out and winter is still coming out ahead. I, for one, am so ready for spring to show some strength here. I would give it a little boost if I just knew how.

I have already done what I can to support spring. I painted my toenails, dug out white pants and some sandals for a few days. I even wore shorts one day and put the air conditioner on. I did my part. Oh, how I enjoyed those warm days last week but where is spring this week?

I am listening to different news stations in hopes of not hearing that dreaded snow report that may prevent the sun from shining and warm weather yet another week.

I am feeling sorry for the people who love to garden and have not been able to because of the weather. I feel for farmers needing to get their crops out. Every year, their lives are determined by the weather but it seems this year has really been unpredictable.

I love the way spring feels. I love the feel of sunshine on my shoulders when it is not too hot and feels just right. Nothing relaxes me more than to lie in the sun before the temperatures begin to reach beyond the mid 80s. I love the way my body seems to thrive with good weather.

I love the care free feeling that spring gives that everything is right with the world.

I love seeing people happier as you meet them out in public with that happy go lucky attitude.

I love the feel of wearing flip flops and sandals.

I love the smells of spring. Some of my favorite spring smells are newly-plowed fresh dirt, clothes hung out on a clothesline, the smell of flowers, the clean smell after a gentle spring rain and the smell of freshly mowed yards.

When we camped, I loved the smell of campfires. I love the smell of food cooking on grills. I love the smell of suntan lotion and the fresh smell of chlorine in pools.

I also love the sounds of spring — chimes tinkling in a gentle breeze, the whir of a lawnmower and a weed eater and the chatter of birds making music as they talk to one another with their incessant chirping sound that just rings of their happiness. I love the crack of a softball or baseball bat and the sounds of kids being happy playing in a neighborhood.

I love how on really warm spring days the sound of the splash of a baited fishing line hitting the water or the croak of a frog, or the sound of a fish coming up for air or to flip in the open air.

I love the sound of kids on the last day of school as the they get out for summer vacation. There is so much I adore about spring, and I guess you can tell.

I have just talked myself into a wonderful spring day, now if I can just find spring! I am so ready for it and I sense the feeling that this year a little more than others, I am not alone.

Sue Staton is a Clark County native who grew up in the Kiddville area. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who is active in her church, First United Methodist Church, and her homemakers group, Towne and Country Homemakers.