The it’s-almost-spring-but-please-don’t-forget-it’s-still-winter weather of the last week reminded me of the uniqueness of our little corner of earth. I saw the caption “only in Maryland” multiple times on social media, paired with screen shots of the weather forecast – sunny and 70s for much of last week, then a windy weekend in the 50s, and then down to 30 degrees on Monday morning. Spring teased us temporarily, but now it’s winter again! The fickle nature of last week’s warmth didn’t stop us from enjoying it, though. And the signs of true spring are all around, from the tiny buds on my front yard forsythia hedge, to the daffodil shoots peeking up from the cold dirt.
What with the pandemic and homeschooling and all, we have spent more of this winter outside than ever before. Outdoor gatherings were the most comfortable and preferable for us and for the vast majority of our friends, and I was unwilling to give up on the numerous benefits of real (ie, not digital) social interaction. So we bundled up and went outside all winter long, and not just when there was pretty snow to play in (that only happened once or twice), but also when the weather felt chilly and dull and blended into the forest in an endless sea of light gray-ish brown. I learned that winter is not dead, and that there are many living things in the forest that survive and thrive in the winter. And I began to see those beautiful living things everywhere.
Because winter this year didn’t come with its usual sense of being trapped either indoors or by acres of abandoned former signs of life, I wasn’t (as I typically find myself) waiting desperately for the rebirth of spring. So last week’s warmth took me by surprise. And for the first time in my life, I found myself a bit nostalgic about the changing of the seasons, and a little bit sorry to see this winter – one of beautiful new discoveries and forests and parks all to ourselves – start to pack its bags and depart. Nonetheless, when the warmth hit my body, I couldn’t help but enjoy it! So enjoy it we did.
My kids and I spent almost every day last week outside. It was a little hard to get their schoolwork done with all that outdoor time on the schedule, but the sudden arrival of warmth and sunshine was too wonderful to pass up. Pair that with a fresh sense of optimism about the pandemic (doesn’t spring make us all optimistic? And so many people seem to be getting vaccines – surely we are crawling closer to the end game?), and staying indoors simply wasn’t an option. In addition to playing outside in our own and our friends’ back yards, we met friends at two of our favorite southern Maryland places: Calvert Cliffs (a fabulous state park, if you’ve never been!) and the nature play space at Wayson’s Corner preserve, which is a tiny and never over-crowded little piece of the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary park properties. There is truly nothing better than being in a beautiful place on a beautiful day with good friends, and these spots were perfect! I will admit Calvert Cliffs was a bit more crowded than usual (owing to the fabulous weather, I assume!), but certainly not too crowded to enjoy.
On top of all that, I had the opportunity to meet a good friend for an early morning grown-up walk (ie, without our kids) on Monday at the American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT). ACLT is truly a gem of Calvert County, and my family has spent a lot of time here already this year (we have a hiking goal to walk every trail at ACLT this year, and we are making great progress!). By Monday, of course, it was freezing again. My body felt a bit shocked as my friend and I started onto the Horse Swamp trail, the cold chilling my muscles even as they had just spent the prior week relaxing into the warmth. But as we wandered off the Horse Swamp trail into the adjoining Parker’s Creek WMA and watched the sun coming up over the Bay, through the bare trees that would in spring or summer have blocked our view, I couldn’t regret that winter had decided to linger a bit longer. I wasn’t ready to tell her goodbye just yet, and fortunately I didn’t have to.
The cold and the daylight savings time change arrived over the weekend, and I watched the departure of our brief dance with spring go with fond memories, glad we had taken time to enjoy its beauty. With the extra hour of light at night, I have suddenly found myself driving my daughter to her evening dance class with a view of the sunset (rather than in complete darkness). And it reminds me that even when we can’t get out to a scenic vista, this place – this Maryland we live in, this place we call home – is beautiful. Right here and right now, in the midst of daily lives. I am looking forward to spring, but I am grateful for right here, right now, for the in-between season.
-That Maryland Mom
Epic Marylanding 