A Season for Everything

Posted on March 19, 2014

One of my favorite things about living in West Virginia is the ability to experience all four seasons. When I was in seventh grade, my teacher read a short story to the class that was written by a former student of hers. The story had won our local Young Writers Contest a few years back. It was about one’s inability to be content. Each time a new season would come about, the person was longing for the next. The story obviously resonated with me, as it has been a long time since seventh grade. I do my best to fully appreciate each season. Each one is unique and perfect in its own way.

This winter has been a harsh one in West Virginia. Many school districts have missed over 20 days due to poor weather conditions. People now become angry at the mention of snow. I now have the unique privilege of being able to stay home on days when the weather is bad. I used to absolutely loathe snow. When I was younger, I had places to go and people to see, and snow kept me from those things. Now I am very content staying at home with my fur babies, warm blanket, good book, and a cup of coffee.

Spring is a welcome thought at the end of each winter, and especially this one. We have been teased with a few perfect West Virginia spring days already even though the first official day of spring isn’t until tomorrow. Everyone is ready to come out of hibernation. People are walking around my neighborhood. I hear birds chirping. Flowers have started blooming. Our favorite local ice cream place has opened its doors once again. Unfortunately, Spring seems to get shorter every year. Those mild days pass by quickly and the next thing you know, its summertime.

Summer is a wonderful thing. The days are longer, kids are out of school, pools are open, and it is hot. There is something so magical about summer when you’re a kid. It seems to last forever, and you want it to. Summer takes on a completely different personality when you are no longer of school age. I begin my summer job, which is a bit more relaxed than teaching. At our house, that means it’s time to start grilling. It’s time to start going to farmer’s markets. It’s a time for thunderstorms, and leaving windows open at night. Eventually the pools close, and summer gives way to fall.

Fall takes my breath away each year. If I could bottle and sell fall in West Virginia, I would make a fortune. By this time everyone is usually just as sick of the heat as they were snow a few months prior. They are ready for cooler temperatures. The doors on our local ice cream place close. Students return to school, and there is an excitement to be felt. The air is crisp, and its time to pack away the tank tops and hang up the scarves. The leaves turn to radiant reds, yellows, and oranges, and descend from the trees. Mother Nature begins preparing us for another winter.

The cycle goes on each year, and there is comfort in knowing the next season is just around the corner.