“Spring has sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the flowers is.” I remember this playful ode to spring from my days at Oakland Beach School. My mother was the president of the PTA, and this was the headline of the spring newsletter. Some attribute these whimsical lines to Ogden Nash, while others credit an anonymous author. Wherever it originated, I appreciate its lighthearted spirit. It’s a joyous and carefree welcome to spring—one that comes to mind every year around this time.

I love springtime! The air feels fresher, and with the time change, the days seem so much longer. Add to that the warmth creeping up again, and I can’t help but skip around with joy.

Spring is said to be good for your health. Increased sunlight exposure boosts serotonin production, which, in turn, lifts your mood. Gone are the winter doldrums—days spent stuck indoors, wrapped in a warm blanket, eyes glazed over watching reruns on television while snow and ice linger outside. In their place comes the energy and excitement of spring fever.

The thawing temperatures awaken the earth, encouraging wildflowers to bloom. Crocuses are the first to peek through the soil, soon followed by pink tulips, purple hyacinths, and cheerful white and yellow daffodils. Spring is simply breathtaking!

Buds appear on the barren trees, and their leaves return. Birds are more plentiful, with many migratory birds returning from their winter homes, filling the air with cheerful songs. Robins, swallows, and bluebirds are among the first to reappear, and, if I am lucky, I can actually spot the birds in the trees rather than just hear their tweets.

Baseball season is back, and Hubby is once again cheering on the Red Sox. Every playing field in the community comes alive with activity, from Little Leaguers just starting out to seasoned high school teams. Meanwhile, spring soccer is in full swing, with players of all ages—from the tiniest tots to energetic adults—kicking off the season.

One of the best parts of spring is packing away my bulky winter clothes and reaching for lighter, breezier outfits. Gone are the heavy coats, thick sweaters, and fuzzy socks. I can finally pull out my short-sleeved shirts, dresses, and light sweaters. As I am doing so, a little voice in the back of my mind whispers a familiar worry that everything will not still fit after months of cozying up indoors and indulging in comfort foods. Those extra five pounds might have settled in a bit too comfortably. But that is okay, I love to go spring shopping at Kohl’s. I still love spring.

But wait… with all the beauty of spring comes an unwelcome guest—pollen! As trees and flowers burst into bloom, they release tiny particles into the air, triggering seasonal allergies. Even after taking an allergy pill, I am not spared. My eyes water uncontrollably, and my throat feels scratchy and dry, making my voice sound like the Hulk. My customary tiny sneezes come in rapid succession. (My dad used to sneeze one humongous sneeze which would scare the hell out of me and make me jump and pee in my pants, so I have always held back my sneezes into tiny bursts.)

Additionally, Rhode Island has seen its share of cold in the spring, with ice and snow bursting forth from the sky, covering the tender flowers. I even remember one blizzard on April Fool’s Day that dumped over a foot of snow. We were on our way to celebrate Easter with relatives in Connecticut when we got caught up in that snowstorm. The weather in March is unpredictable, with it often being warm during the day, only to wake up to frost on the car windshield the next morning.

I still love spring, with the promise of warmer weather to come.