Hint of spring

Oh sweet, warm breeze blowing back my hair, tugging open my jacket. It's March 2, and it's the first day to feel like spring. It always amazes me what impact weather can have on mood. Today, nothing bothered me. Absent-minded co-worker not getting the work done? No problem. Pants that fit just a little too snuggly? Whatever. It's a sunny day in Charm City, and I'm feeling great. Noisy little children on the bus? Today, they amused rather than annoyed. I especially liked the eighth grade couple getting in a few last cuddles before we got to their stop. The boy even said, "Come on, we only have a few more stops!" Oh to be thirteen. Well, maybe not. But the girl is totally adorable – I remember her last year as she went through an awkward phase and was all limbs and her pants were always too short. I know, mother nature totally let her off easy. Tall and skinny? Try being 14 but looking 10, and having that last through half of high school. Or talk to my sisters. We have some priceless photos documenting their prolonged awkward phase (think unruly curls and ginormous glasses). Anyway, this girl was awkward last year and now she's all poised in her cute wire frames and sassy haircut.

Spring does bring some challenges for the bus chica. This morning, I left my house around 5:15 to walk to the bus stop. Walking in the dark, I could watch my breath in the air. So, I was happy to have worn an extra down vest under my peacoat. My scarf proved to be much needed, as did the hat and gloves. I went without the usual long underwear – ah! Like shedding an uncomfortable layer of skin. Or a teenage awkward phase. I did end up wearing my hanging-on-by-a-thread boots. It took maybe five minutes to make my transfer to the City bus downtown, and it was a brisk 5 minutes. Definitely was not overdressed or over-layered.

Fast forward to 5:00 pm when I left the office. Oh the difference twelve hours makes. I didn't even bother putting on the down vest or the boots. Or the hat and gloves. The sun had been pouring through the windows all day. Even wearing just my coat and light-weight scarf, I had a light sweat going by the time I got to my bus stop (about half a mile walk). Praise be to the reusable grocery bag I'd tucked away in my desk. How else would I have transported all this stuff? I can't leave it at my desk because I'll most likely need to wear it all again tomorrow. *sigh* But what a small price to pay for more of this fantastic weather.