Happy Earth Day

Originally uploaded by pinkzilla

I just exhaled a heavy heart-ed sigh thinking about my failure to take a picture for the last week. With all good intentions I will continue the rest of the spring season to capture a new city during my favorite part of the year. I love watching the rain clouds hover over the Chicago skyline and obscure the tallest buildings around only to see a sunshine filled daffodil the next day.

I love even thinking "oh there's another bulb coming up, I've seen those all over". How remarkable it is to look at these living green plants awaking from the soil. So what if the soil is toxic? That's why I have a new community garden to go work in - complete with wonderful new people to meet and a world full of potential meals to make from the spoils. Had you asked me in February if I could possibly imagine having not only a garden, but the fixtures of our apartment repaired and a green light to get a dog in the works, I would have hugged you still doubted. It was quite bleak, my outlook for continued settling into this Midwestern metropolis. So many major aches were unfulfilled. Life was too busy to try and relocate. Worse yet it seemed still no garden would be possible. No roof. No sun. No tomatoes. No dirty fingers from soil (rather than the usual bike grease).

Today the sun is coming out in time to usher in several days of warm spring weather. I find it a fitting metaphor for the peace I'm feeling. A year ago I would tear up thinking about how much I wanted a settled life. My taste buds could image it. My eyes could see it when the lids closed. And yet it seemed so far. That hardship is why I moved in the first place. To once again appreciate the life I can build. This year has sped past me thanks to all those steps I had in my mind to take. And I can't imagine doing it without Joel. Or the new people I have met.

All this waxing nostalgic and appreciative must have come from the gift card I received for Administrative Professionals day. Or possibly it's the giant tree they put on Michigan Avenue - adorned with flaming green ribbons in honor of earth day and the Arboretum. Either way, I can feel it. Ease. Happiness. That old sneaky contentment I looked for around all the corners of debt and jobs and apartments.

Now if only the blossoms would bloom. All cities look better dressed in blossoms. Also, I need to fix the wheels for the new bike. But I swear, after that, I'll relax just a bit. (Once we have a dog, of course.)

Wishing you not only Happy Earth Day, but happy on the earth day. I hope next year's honoring of our air/trees/natural resources we deplete too fast finds you feeling half as good as I am right now.

Love love love,

K.