Spring!
I somehow managed to miss the equinox again. In 2011, I didn't post my traditional spring post because sad stuff was going on; last year I appear to have just completely forgotten about it. And yesterday I was traveling all day, and anyway unaware that it was equinox day. So here, a day late, is my favorite bit of Swinburne:
For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remember'd is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.
—Algernon Charles Swinburne, from "Atalanta in Calydon" (1865)
I know that winter is still in full force in some parts of the US; think of this as an aspirational kind of thing.
Back home, it's been mid- to late spring for a few weeks now. The trees on my block are in glorious bloom. I've been refraining from talking about it here 'cause it seemed poor form given friends in other parts of the country being engulfed in three-foot snow drifts; I don't mean to gloat. But it has been nice.
Right now, I'm in Florida for ICFA; first time I've attended. May post more about it later, but for now am a little dazed—woke up around 5:30 Florida time this morning, so my sleep schedule is completely confused. In a few minutes, am heading off to attend Sofia's and Mary Anne's talks/presentations; will try to stay awake, but may have to leave and go take a nap or something.