Spring is in the air...for a few days anyway.

Today's warm-ish breeze of 59 degrees was so great. Especially after the -4 a week or so ago. No, I'm not going to talk about the weather, I'm going to talk about the feelings this weather brings!

I'm sitting at my dining room table imagining the windows open, late spring light streaming through the windows, and a warm-ish breeze stirring my papers on the table. 10,000 Maniacs "Like the Weather" is playing on my iPhone. There with me yet? Good.

These days remind me of being a kid knowing school was thisclose to letting out and my birthday was even closer. They remind me of listening to 10,000 Maniacs in our driveway as I roller-skate around narrowly missing the cracks in the pavement which meant a nice scab was not too far away. Or jumping rope with my BFF Emily. Or pretending to write novels in my little bedroom. Or torturing my brother. Typical stuff really.

I'm also reminded of driving as a 16-year old, just out of school for the day, BLASTING Jars of Clay from my open windows. Bass thumping in my Grand Am, letting everyone know just how "cool" I was. Maybe or maybe not racing a friend down the street in our cars (you didn't see me you can't prove anything!). Heading to work at the fudge and coffee shop in Grabill. Working on homework in the bunk end of my parents house while (it's true) Amy Grant's "Lucky One" played in the background. (Hey, we weren't all stellar in our music pick!) Wishing someone would ask me to prom.

I think of my Toyota with the sunroof in college. Playing Barenaked Ladies (the band people! the band!) and wishing I too had a million dollars...I'd be rich! Walking to class in "The Valley" while talking to Breea or Julie or one of my roomates about the latest boy or shocking thing someone did. Of working late in the art lab while listening to Moby and wishing I could sleep.

Spring is also the time of year my brother died but I like to think of the great things about spring. Like when I lived in Cardiff. Being away from my parents on the anniversary was tough but my amazing friend Naomi planned a whole day based on take-away Chinese, cheesy 80's movies, and pic-n-mix. We watched "The Karate Kid," "Thelma and Louise," and "Dirty Dancing" in a comfy little house in Thornhill. Still blasting music by the way. This time it's Snow Patrol, Will Young, and Franz Ferdinand...when in the UK, listen to UK music! :)

I also think of after college and meeting my husband for the first time. It was May 8th, 2005. Best. Spring. Ever. Nothing more to say really. It just rocked.

Now, spring makes me dream of laying in the hammocks reading the latest page turner. Taking our bikes to the River Greenway. Planning a little road trip. And yes, still BLASTING music through my open Jeep windows. Right now, it's Adele. I'm hoping to move spring along and she's just the girl to do it!

Oh, and in case you don't know what songs I'm referring to, here you are.