Let the Sunshine In

No Sun, No Melt

We know without sunshine plants don’t thrive and flower won’t bloom. Snow remains in its solid form, and humans get grumpy. After welcoming the Spring Equinox and seriously considering shaving my legs for shorts, I felt betrayed by the weather system. Waking up hearing the heat blasting and seeing white covering the ground made me wanted to run away. (It’s April, people.)

J wanted to do our Wednesday walk and catch up. I stipulated that I only had 45 minutes and it had to be over 25 degrees outside. When the time came, I bundled up and went out, despite that the piercing cold hit my face like an ice wall. It was 16 degrees.

At the least the sun came out after two days of snow.

My tall and slender friend wore a red down coat and waited at our meeting place. I waved at her. She waved but continued to gaze at a bare, imposing cottonwood.

“This is my favorite tree.” She tilted her chin. “The birds on it are talking to the birds on that tree.” J turned her head and pointed at another tree across the street.

“What are they say…” My voice dropped off. Who knows or cares? I am with a good friend in the sun. The starlings chirped and squawked -black dots at the end of branches against the azure sky. We have golden rays and music.

I gave J a hug and we walked.

On the way home, the sun fully emerged. Its warmth softened my face. Thank goodness, at this moment, spring felt possible again. I traced the paths toward my house, noting every bird near me. Contrasting the sunlight was shadows of snow under fences, next to tree trunks -in the shape of their owner.

On the highlands of Boulder, CO, no sun, no melt. The sun can clear driveways if they face south or east. North, forget it. Shovel, skate on melted-snow-turned-ice, or wait for evaporation.

I thought about what J and I shared: angst, loves and hopes. We hadn’t walked for two weeks, and had just opened up to connect. We gave each other support and insight -the psychological sunshine. Afterward, we felt more positive.

We need to air out and give light to one another. Otherwise, the heart can stay frozen like the snow in the shadow.