Except for the noisy bird, these days of counterfeit spring are swell. The daffodils up the hill at the old home place are blooming their hearts out, despite a low ceiling of briars. The trees have knotty buds, ready to unfurl the first sunny day. The branch is refreshed by days of rain, the drought deficit almost erased. I haven't spotted the wild turkeys yet, but I imagine they're out there somewhere, gobbling and grazing like old garden-club women.
Life is good.
The local newspaper, The Vidette, already is full of engagement photos as the spring couplings begin in earnest. In the pictures appear achingly young and eager faces, boys and girls alike, ready to take the leap and the vows. All of them believe they are about to make a lifelong odyssey, though half will just get a quick lift around the block. But not even wedding-engagement photos can dampen my generally optimistic mood. I remain cautious, however.