Signs of Spring
A warm breeze brought spring to our house this week. Temperatures seesawed from pleasantly cool to pleasantly warm. Not to say the chilly mornings have completely passed, but we are into cool evenings with light extending until nine, middays where not even a light cardigan is necessary, and morning grass is covered with dew instead of frost. Trees blossom. Tulips take the place of daffodils. Spring green increasingly coats the gray hillsides. Ladies in t-shirts instead of parkas say hello on my daily walk with Mack the Dog.
The myth of a full eight hours worth of sleep got destroyed as cool but not cold nights allowed a window to stay open. The cool air eased the hot flashes and I slept almost all night long! For several nights in a row!
Woohoo!
That much sleep gave me a little extra energy. Time to switch out the wardrobe!
Smooth cotton sheets and summer clothes tipped out of the closet and turtlenecks, flannel shirts and cozy winter sheets tucked into the top shelf until next autumn.
All those summer clothes got tried on and the ones that shrunk are stacked and waiting to go to the donation center.
Yes, I said “shrunk.” Who ever heard of winter coziness and menopause causing weight gain?
At least it’s an excuse to refresh the wardrobe! A perfect activity to avoid writing on a warm afternoon. Dreams of linen and cotton dresses, shirts and capri pants shoot out into the universe and promise to arrive in the next couple of weeks.
Gardening coaxes me outdoors. Stephanie ordered a planter with five stepped levels. After assembly and placement, Gui filled the whole thing with dirt and Monika had me go through the seeds that she and Gui have collected. Spinach, lettuce, scallions, radishes, herbs and edible flowers will get snuggled into the stepped planter for a convenient kitchen garden.
And, while Stephanie and I went for a drive one afternoon to worship the blossoming trees, Gui and Monika swept and mopped the house! Even our room!
Okay, I mean, of course we had to rearrange our stuff back to its regular places, but still…BEST. ROOMMATES. EVER.
Plus, Gui hung brightly flowering baskets on either side of the back door. So cheerful, and we can both see them from the den.
But even with the flowers, green leaves and the fresh smell of dirt, there’s still one more thing that needs to happen to truly herald the oncoming season—Star Wars Day!
Did you know I was “One of Those People?”
Don’t let the knowledge of the Star Wars franchise fool you. I’m also a devotee of Star Trek.
Do you know the difference?
You really should.
It’s like the difference between knitting and crocheting. Both crafts are created with yarn, but result in remarkably different fabrics. The crochet hook pulls together a sturdy fabric fast, emphasizing color and design. Knitted fabric drapes slowly from the needles and embraces the feeling of the fiber. Not to say that these qualities can’t shift back and forth between the two mediums, but knitting tends to be more elegant and crochet boisterous.
The same goes for Star Trek and Star Wars. Both are science fiction with a strong connection to the stories of the Wild West told in the mid-twentieth century.
Star Trek is, as a rule, anti-colonialist, anti-capitalist and centered in science. Research done by the writers results in a strong connection to future scientific discoveries. In fact, the design of flip phones resulted from the design of the communicators from the original series. There’s an emphasis on reason and a scientific explanation for everything that occurs in this universe, as well as a sensibility that sees all life as worthy.
On the other hand, Star Wars centers itself in a mystical universe, heavily influenced by the mind/body connection of martial arts. Revolutionaries fight Imperial Forces headed by an Emporer who controls the universe through his evil powers, aka The Dark Side. Jedi knights stand with the freedom fighters, using their own connection to the Force to aid in their battles.
Both universes have spawned multiple sequels, prequels, and spinoffs filmed in both live action and animation.
And both have their own rabid fan base.
My own devotion to these two franchises can best be considered agnostic. Both Star Trek and Star Wars have their attractions for me. I love Captain Jean-Luc Picard as much as I adore General Leia Organa. Neither is better than the other. I’m not one to race for my light saber or phaser to defend the honor of either galaxy.
Though if you confuse knitting and crochet, I will shun you. Or, if I really love you, pedantically explain the difference until your ears begin to bleed.
May the Fourth Be With You!
(FYI—Star Trek Day is September 8, the anniversary of the premiere of the original series, though April 5 can be considered more significant since it is First Contact Day which recognizes the date that humans first encountered aliens in the Star Trek universe in 2063.)
And now we can all put our nerds away, come together and enjoy the spring!
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Here's a comment unrelated to Star Trek or Star Wars. A friend is celebrating his 95 birthday. I sent him a bottle of Domaine Serene. It gave me a Steamboat Springs flashback.
My love to you both.
Whatever you say, Rosebud.