Seasons

I lived in southern California during my college years and sitting on the beach in 85 degree weather on Christmas day just wasn’t right.  I’m a Northwest gal and I like my seasons.  I don’t even have a favorite one because they all offer something unique and wonderful, but I will say, springtime in Skagit County is hard to beat.

With fruit trees in our yard full of blossoms and a few hardy daffodils and tulips displaying vibrant colors on our deck, my “Simple Pleasures” bucket gets easily filled.  Looking out over the fields and seeing splashes of yellows and reds, not only thrills my soul, but also reminds me to avoid going anywhere on the weekends when the traffic backups can be of monumental proportions.

In the past, whenever I’ve driven down McLean Road in April behind someone going at least 20 miles an hour under the limit, I’d say a few choice words that fortunately no one could hear.  My patience ran thin with the looky loos… but over the years, I’ve had a change of heart. 

That drive down McLean Road is scenic anytime of the year, but in the springtime it just downright sparkles - so naturally people come from near and far to see the fields of tulips that wow us all. 

I had an “aha” moment a few years ago when I was driving ever so slowly behind someone with Canadian plates that slammed on their brakes intermittently, obviously not able to make up their mind if they were going to pull over or not.  And of course, with all the oncoming traffic, there was no way for me to pass them.  Rather than be frustrated, I just laughed.  I realized they left their homeland and drove all the way down here just to see something I see each and every day when I drive into town.  How blessed I felt to have such a routine drive be down a road that people go hours out of their way just to see.  I decided I didn’t mind sharing that with them one little bit and the fact they go slower allows me to see things I don’t normally notice when I’m zooming by at 50 miles per hour.  I had finally made peace with tourist season.

Each season has its benefits and drawbacks.  And fortunately in the Northwest, they move on at just the right clip.  Just about the time I start getting weary from hauling in wood for the winter, cutting grass in the spring, watering plants in the summer or raking up leaves in the fall, the season changes.  We have it good here. 

In Norway, they say they only have two seasons, the white winter and the green winter.  In North Dakota, my relatives tell me they also only have two seasons – winter and road construction.

Four seasons suites me just fine because if one of them stuck around a bit too long, I fear I’d take it for granted, as I did for so many years with my drive down McLean Road.