The Awakening Of The Spring Blossoms...

We wait with baited breath, afraid that if we breathe too hard they will float away before we can have even a promise of a second date. At the very first sign of one fresh bud you can almost feel the collective sigh of relief from all those individuals that call our DC Metro area Home. The sun shines, the air turns warmer and everyone sheds their winter frocks for brightly colored outfits. Everyone smiles and actually looks forward to saying "Hello" to a stranger.

You can almost count the hours by how many blossoms have opened. Blink or stop to have a cup of coffee and you'll miss it. It will slip so easily through your fingers and before you know it you'll have to wait a full turn of the calendar to recapture the magic.

While out on one of my morning strolls I was engrossed in taking pictures. Nose in the air, camera to my eye and thoroughly enjoying the spell that Spring casts on me when a woman, a stranger, walked up, paused next to me and smiling, she sighed "If you pause while standing below and take the time to just look up, well, it's just plain MAGICAL". And like a petal on the wind, with a smile and a nod, she was gone. Lost in her own magical wonder land.

Only during this special season do you get that kind of random connection with a stranger. A moment in time where, despite your background, you know EXACTLY what the other is saying.

It almost feels like a slower pace around here. You notice everyone is smiling and actually strolling instead of rushing to that meeting, the bus stop, to run that errand.

When this is what awaits you just outside your door in the morning how can you not take the time to breathe it in? It would almost be a sin to not take time to pause, reflect and appreciate.

Please dear reader, every morning for a week, step outside your door and just take a moment to let the fresh air soak into you. Smile and say thank you to Mother Nature who has once again woken up from her Winter slumber and painted us a precious gift.