Living in Bangor we learn to notice the subtle signs of spring. The first Robin feeding on the lawn.. the return of Canadian Geese… and the receding snowbanks giving way to bubbling streams. We search the mulched gardens for green sprouts making their first appearance and the groundhogs along side the interstate.
When I planted the crocus bulbs just inches away from the south facing brick wall of 81 Park Street, I gave myself the best gift of all. In the early days of March it happens…the tender sprouts of the crocus make their appearance and you almost want to tell them to go back…..it’s not time yet….you are going to hurt yourself. Secretly you do a little dance and you share the news with all of your friends. Summer is on it’s way, no matter how dreary the day. Over the next few days you watch the temperatures and although it snows, and the weather is frigid….they survive…. just like we do. 
Well…. this spring it happened again and when the first blossom bloomed a few weeks ago I had to post it on Facebook. 68 Likes and 10 comments later I realized that everyone is looking for that same promise. Now weeks later, the daffodils and tulips are coming…and the next sure sign of spring will be the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe race. If it’s like most years in the past, the weather will be a snowy mix and the crocuses, daffodils and tulips will shiver right along with the paddlers.
If we lived in a different place, these pictures may be a dime a dozen . However we live in Bangor, and they are precious. The signs of spring, just the thing we all need this time of year.
The beauty of rebirth….the signs of the seasons….a Bangorism.
