Spring!

I saw my first true burst of green yesterday. Granted, the tree was an exotic, and thus probably coming out of its shell a bit earlier than temperatures might merit due to our lengthening daylight hours, but even its native neighbors have buds and are thinking about showing their color soon.

Spring comes late in the Greatland.

But I'm seeing it elsewhere - all but the smallest traces of snow are gone from the low country, the hummingbirds are here, there are trumpeter swans frequenting the mouth of the river, and Sam and I encountered our first bear of the year during an evening walk last week (coincidentally, the first walk of the year on which we'd deemed it necessary to start carrying bear spray with us).

Alaska's one of those odd places where it's winter for a very long time, then spring only briefly, then suddenly summer. And it's really feeling that way this year. We've got amazingly long days already, there are suddenly unfamiliar faces everywhere as the seasonal employees who keep the tourism industry of the town going start to return, and we are once again enjoying some of our favorite restaurants (many of which are only open during the "season").

Before long I will be longing for my moonlit nights and starry skies, which will soon disappear entirely. But it will also be nice to feel the sun on my skin while I read a book in my hammock in the back garden.

I hope you're enjoying life, whatever season it is where you live.