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I never sit with my back to a plant without feeling whispers of snaky plant tendrils tapping my shoulder. I put my indoor plant aversion down to a terrible movie I saw at a tender age. It was in black and white and all I remember was that it was set in prehistoric times and this little girl was hiding from some jungle animal and a giant Venus flytrap-type plant ate her. It scarred me for life, and to this day while I enjoy botanical prints and plaques in my house, I have no live plants indoors. I could enjoy just painted leaves, giving me the feel of a jungle and avoiding nasty plants, hungry animals and bugs that bite.
Yes, I have spring/cabin fever. I know it is only February and this is Minnesota, but I think our weather patterns have changed over the past 40 years, and we are getting warmer. And I want some of that warmth right now. In fact by the time this column is printed, I expect the cold spell will have broken and I can finally hang up the huge coat. I have pictures from the ’60s and ’70s and snow was piled at every street corner and it was higher than the tops of the cars. What happened to that type of Winona winter? This freezing cold in February after a mild dry December and January is just wrong. No one is prepared, and I am ready for a vacation.
I really hate all the stuff (accoutrements) you have to wear or have handy to even take out the trash. Boots piled by the door, hats in piles, mittens — several of which do not match but must have a mate somewhere — scarves, ear muffs and head bands. If you have children then the pile is even bigger and someone’s boots are always right in the way as you dash back in from getting the paper or taking out the trash. Come spring cleaning time, all that stuff will be going into bags and getting packed away, and I can reclaim the entryway. Maybe I will put a giant silk floral arrangement there in the entryway instead of our soft cloth sculpture consisting of winter weather tamers.
One thing I have been doing a lot of this winter is attending meetings. Planning for the future makes me feel that winter is just too long, and then I feel like spring should be here already, not just a future project on paper. Maybe it is just spring fever or cabin jitters, but I have come to realize I am not at my best at meetings. I know some people thrive on meetings and planning, and I am so glad those people are out there doing the work that needs to be done.
But me?
I tend to want to rush things and want to just get the project started. I can see it happening, know just how it should go (just ask me) and can’t understand why other members are still back there dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on their notes. I start, then go back and figure out all the steps, a bit of a leaper. Others need to take all the steps one at a time, and then realize the final project. Then again it could just be my frame of mind or even the makeup of the group. One committee I am on is planning our 40-year class reunion. We met last Sunday, and it was just — “should we go ahead?”
“Yes.”
“OK, well you do this, you do that. I’ll do this. We have this much. Here are the addresses,” and zip, everyone had a project and we moved forward. The group moved much faster than we are moving from winter to spring.
This is also the time of year when I miss being in school. Not that I actually liked school all that much, but I could be looking forward to a spring break. I have a sister who is a teacher, and I know she works hard at her profession. Still, when she is on spring break I get jealous. Maybe more Minnesota employees should consider the concept of a spring break. What a recruitment tool! They could promise that even though winters are still cold in Minnesota we can offer you a benefit unique to our region — spring break. Companies could offer a long weekend mini-break to all employees. They could hold beach parties at an indoor pool, complete with free tanning sessions, hot tubs and fruity drinks with pineapples in them. At the very least they could have fresh flowers in the break room and put in a small inflatable pool filled with sand and a fake palm tree. If companies are seriously considering naps on company time as being good for their workers, just think of the benefits to employees and employers by having a warm break from a cold winter.
This weekend is my three-day mini-spring break. No kidding. It just worked out that way, and I rented a hotel room and plan to sit in the pool area by that fake palm tree and pretend I am down in Florida or Cancun and enjoying having my meals cooked for me and my room cleaned by a maid. See you when I get back.
Carol Borzyskowski co-edits and co-produces the literary magazine Main Channel
Voices.
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Observer wrote on Feb 26, 2007 1:23 PM: