My husband and I moved to New Jersey  from Minneapolis about nine years ago and it took us a while to be fond of the place. There was a bit of a shock involved, to be honest, in the beginning. Everything from highways to alleys, store fronts to gas stations made us go ‘ What’!! And let’s not talk about the way people drove here that included the dreaded and shameful ‘honk’. Reeling from the pain of leaving, what I still think of as, ‘the best group of people one can possibly know’ ( at least was so in our case) in Minneapolis, it took us a bit of time to really like it here.

Anyways, it has been nine years since and in spite of the things that we still sort of roll our eyes at,  it has become home. Our kids were born here and from two poor grad students we have grown into responsible adults ( hopefully) and all of that has happened in this place that is frowned down upon by most of the rest of the country. But it’s okay. This place, like any other, grows on you and you learn to navigate that which maybe unflattering.

But one thing that we still have not gotten used to, and hence cannot bring ourselves to like, is the weather and its fluctuations that are sure to drive one a tiny bit crazy. It could be 81 degrees Fahrenheit today and 42 tomorrow and 65 the next day. And what is supposed to be Spring, should be known as the ‘rainy season’ like we have back in India. There is no confusion that way. We knew, when growing up, that June-August or early September was the rainy season and we went about our lives accordingly. But here what is ‘advertised’ as Spring- that tempts you to start packing your mittens and hats, makes you look forward to that cherry blossom viewing you have been planning for a while or your simple yearning to turn that heater off- is actually a very heavy rainy season and all your plans go for a toss. It rains a whole lot and that is a blessing, I understand. But the dampness and gloom and grey skies can toy with the spirits at times! The cherry blossoms take a hit too.  The last couple of years, they were exceptionally short lived because of the torrential downpour. This year looks to be following a similar path.

Under the stay-at-home order, we rarely go out even for groceries. And the rain and cold do not allow for much of a walk around the neighborhood as well. But a few days back, we had a warm spring day and it was beautiful and we went out.  Sights of spring greeted us. As I clicked some pictures, I could not help but think when will the world heal.

(Some of these photos I have already shared but here they are all together.)

 

Peeking out.

 

Poor shot but spring-y nonetheless.

 

A whole lot of green

 

It was Holi as well around that time and some kids had braved the cold to splash around a little color:)

 

Life’s little joys

 

 

This little guy could hardly contain his excitement at being able to run around.

 

The tiny buds were almost ready to blossom and what a sight that would be-the pink against the cloudless blue sky.

 

 

Some are always ahead of others.

 

 

The Spring rain!

 

Thanks for stopping by. How are you welcoming spring? Or those getting ready to welcome Fall, how are you ushering it in? Times are different now but it keeps moving even so. Wherever you are and whoever you are with, and be it spring or autumn, hope you get to collect moments, big or small, that fill your heart and help you hold on a little longer.