Great Exhalations
Today is the first day of spring, and I can almost hear the Earth sighing in relief that winter is over – for most of us, at least. I was just outside and noticed that our Weeping Cherry trees have tiny pink buds waiting to open, and our Hydrangeas have small green leaves attempting to unfurl like mini flags. In this beautiful, warm March sun, I know it won’t be long.
Spring marks the beginning of new life and, for many, new hope for the rest of the year ahead. It’s almost like we cover our heads and cower in the corner during those brutal winter storms, and once they pass and the sun shines again, bringing gentle breezes and tiny buds that burst forth in celebration, we, along with the Earth, exhale.
But this year is a little different for my husband and me. This year, new life doesn’t just come in the form of budding branches and tiny green grass shoots. This year, a new beginning also includes a tiny baby Basset, named Winnie. We adopted her last Friday, in the hope that she would fill some of the void that losing our seven-year-old Basset left in us. And, friends, when I tell you she’s doing just that – especially as far as our five-year-old Basset is concerned – it’s an understatement.
Down our steep yard they run, with ears flying out behind them like large, furry banners. Watching them brings to mind the old television show, “The Flying Nun,” starring Sally Field. I’m waiting for the wind to come in from just the right direction and lift them off the ground just as it did to Sally back in the 1960’s.
My big Basset, Hannah, has the patience of Job with little Winnie – that is until Winnie tries to take Hannah’s rawhide. Actually, it’s Winnie’s rawhide that was quickly laid claim to by Hannah, complete with a small growl that seemed to dare Winnie to try and tell her otherwise. But, Winnie is not too intimidated, and she pounces on Hannah in an attempt to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Winnie loses, of course, but that’s not the important thing to her, or to my husband and me. What is important is that Hannah is paying attention to her, and, most importantly of all, accepting her, which Hannah did after the first 36 hours. During that time, Hannah did her best to ignore her, obviously wishing in vain that she would just disappear. But, much to her chagrin, Winnie was still there the next day, and the day after. Now, each morning when Hannah sees her, she wags and sniffs her to make sure she has made it through another night in one piece, and when she sees that she has, Winnie is thoroughly licked. And that’s when I exhale, and give thanks to the good Lord above that all of our hearts are healing, and bursting with new joy, just like the buds on the trees.
Happy spring, everyone!