In the midst of an endlessly bleak & dreadful Minneapolis winter, these surprising pockets of sunny days happen--- they are the first feels of spring. You wake up and the temperature reads 45. "But that's 70 degrees warmer than the -25 wind-chill on Tuesday." You think you are wrong; that the thermometer is wrong. But both are right.
What do you do?
First, you call one of your lovely friends and she agrees to join you for a walk around your neighborhood (Seward) and along the Mississippi.
With her, you gawk at the snow melting and how its disappearance reveals a front-yard's Halloween gravestones.
When you pass strangers on these first days of warmth, it is proper, polite, and absolutely necessary to say hello. You will not question it or strive for the motivation. It happens naturally. You will smile and you will say hello because you cannot help yourself.
It is "warm" but it's only 45 degrees so you still think the joggers in shorts and t-shirts are goddamn crazy.
You will have to leap over puddles and step in slushy muck. This is okay for you. You have long, gallant strides, but your companion does not. Feel free to help her if necessary, but no person from Minnesota will accept help when it comes to anything related to weather. Ever. Not even that old lady next door will accept your help shoveling snow. (And her walk is always cleared before your's. How do her feeble arms and crackling back do it?)
When you pass your favorite Thai restaurant (True Thai on Franklin Ave.) go inside and buy the egg rolls. Why not? I mean... they're delicious. Eat these on the stoop of a quaint church.
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| "You are a natural leader." |
You will both--- but especially you--- will receive pertinent fortunes in your cookies.
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| "Others appreciate you more than you think." |
Continue to feel the sun on your skin, the warmth. Comment on it as much as it stirs you to.
You sleep well that night and in the morning wake to bird sounds in the pine.
