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Millie Naughton: We are ready for spring
Mundelein, 3/23/01 --Pioneer Press Columnist, Millie Maughton.
Updated: July 3, 2011 12:06PM
What is it about spring that not only awakens the blooms and animals, but our schedules as well?
We begin to emerge from dwellings ready to welcome spring and the rebirth of nature. Somehow we get sidetracked with sports and parties for all kinds of occasions.
Running and hurdling, bats swinging, well-shinguarded legs kicking soccer balls all over the county are just some of the sports being represented every weekend and several times during the week. With our three athletes, the logistics can get difficult. Practices, games and meets mean a tight coordination of driving schedules and meals made. Okay, some times those meals are made by Culver’s or Subway, but that makes us appreciate those homecooked meals even more.
We’d love to get some gardening done. Bushes need to be trimmed, weeds need to be dealt with, and new flowers need to be planted as those tulips and daffodils fade. But weekends are soon filled up with family events that include more than just birthdays.
From April through May, girls appear in their white dresses while boys are sporting shirts and ties for their first communion. Or it’s also the older kids making their confirmation.
Then, of course, it’s prom season, and it’s off to find the perfect dress. And shoes. And don’t forget a corsage of flowers. But wait, what happened to those flowers were going to get into the ground? That must be why hanging baskets are so popular. Hang those on a tall stake or from a hook and voila! Instant spring decorating.
Another event to make room for in the spring is graduation. What better symbol of new beginning than that? Whether it’s from 8th grade, high school or college, a promotion ceremony symbolizes a chapter closed and a new one starting. Time to gather the troops and throw a big shindig.
Since weddings are also more popular in the spring, there are showers and all sorts of festivities leading up to the big event. And there are years that they come in spurts-everyone decides to get married all at once booking weekends not only in the spring, but well through the summer as well.
That’s why I kind of feel bad for May birthdays. Those kind of take a backseat to all of the other special things going on at the same time. My son was born on the last day of May 12 years ago. And it happened to be Memorial Day, so we missed my mom’s annual famous grilling event. But being the true mom she is, she snuck some barbecued chicken and corn on the cob into my hospital room.
Now every year my son’s birthday has had to compete for time with baseball tournaments, backyard parties and the like. There have been a couple of years when we didn’t gather the families to celebrate him until the end of June.
But oh, how we welcome spring, with all of its crazy activities. So bring it on, I say, because we are ready.
Contact Mundelein Musings at: millienaughton@att.net
