It’s Good to Be Back

We arrived back in Lancaster, PA to spring in full force. The mild winter jump started spring so that the forsythia and daffodils were already gone by. Driving up through the Carolina Mountains and the Shenandoah Valley, we enjoyed the surprising contrast of the yellow-green trees and the purple-pink red bud trees. Black angus calves followed their mothers out in the fields as the Canadians and Pennsylvanians drove by heading north on 81.

It’s good to be back to see the flowering trees and the pale green budding leaves. As I left the gym the other day, Canada geese were gathering in a field, ready to fly north. A wagon full of Amish ladies drove by, pulled by a horse. It was still a bit chilly, and the Amish ladies had black shawls wrapped tightly around them.

At our house, the lilacs are trying to bloom, now unencumbered by the shady maple that was taken down after the Halloween snow last fall. The robins sit on the fence of the vegetable garden, excited by Neil’s roto-tilling. Where will the next worm come up? Now with our bird baths and bird feeder full, we welcome the cardinals, robins, chickadees, and a woodpecker that is confused by the missing maples. Visiting the local garden center and working in the yard are a pleasure on these brisk but sunny days with a promise of warm weather not far away.


It’s good to see our friends after the long winter away. Our golf leagues are up and running, my book group, gym classes, and card group are going strong. Another rite of spring—the Democratic fundraiser—is coming up. As we walk through our neighborhood after supper, we are happy to greet and talk to old friends.

Best of all, we are reunited with our grandson who, not yet two, still remembers us enough to let me hold him in my lap and read a book. Our son-in-law and daughter have a beautiful new home in NJ only two hours from where we live. Hallelujah!