Wednesday, April 25, 2012

When I was a Child - Spring Edition

Well, it's time for the 4th and final installment of my "When I was a Child" post series.  It's been really fun to reflect back on my childhood memories.  I feel very fortunate to have so many wonderful memories!

Admittedly, spring has never been my favorite season, even as a child.  We have had a nice spring this year (for the most part) but we rarely get a true spring in Minnesota/North Dakota.  Despite our short/non-existent springs, I still have good memories, such as...

  • Begging my dad to get our bikes out of storage when the weather turned nicer, and then riding up and down our long driveway!
  • Celebrating Easter - from the Easter dresses/bonnets to Easter baskets to Easter mass and the dinner that followed - I loved it all!  
  • Lilacs and Tulips blooming.  I remember being amazed by the fact that those tulips would just pop up on their own (and I'm still amazed by this).  We had a big lilac tree in our backyard and we'd usually bring in a bouquet to place in a vase.  I loved the smell of fresh lilac flowers!
  • Those rare spring days when it was actually warm enough to wear shorts!
  • Memorial Weekends spent at the lake.  The lake season always kicked off on Memorial Day weekend - and while my younger sister was usually the only one brave enough to get in the water (burr!), it was still fun being back by the lake.  
  • Piano recital time!  I don't have the best memories of being in piano recitals (I thought they were stressful), but I loved having piano recitals when I taught piano in high school.  I was always so proud of how my students did. 
Did you like Spring as a child?  Do you like the season now?  If our spring weather was always like it's been this year, I would like this season way more!

21 comments:

Gracie said...

I didn't know you taught piano. Impressed!
I never liked Spring in New England (very muddy), but when we moved to Louisiana I have to admit - Spring in New Orleans is lovely. If only it would stick around for more than a few weeks.

Carolina John said...

Spring was always my mother's favorite season. I always enjoyed getting the garden planted and putting flowers on the cross in front of the church. Other than that spring was pretty sucky.

and you know you're from the north when spring includes memorial day weekend. By that time down here we're already several weeks into summer.

missris said...

I love the tulips. Even though spring in Chicago was usually cold and rainy/snowy (sniff) the tulips definitely cheered me up!

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

I think it's funny that you didn't like Spring as much due to the fact that you didn't really have one! I think Spring may be my favorite, although I really love them all for their own reasons.

I actually have my "Spring" post drafted but wasn't sure when I was going to post it. You beat me! :)

Spring reminds me of school almost being over. And what is better than that?

Marlys said...

Today is a beautiful spring day and the tulips are blooming so I rejoice in it! Tomorrow may bring snow! Who knows when you live in the upper midwest! I can't wait for the lilacs to bloom as that smell is the best! I think flowers is what makes spring the best!

qwerkyqook said...

Ha. Spring = piano recital. So true!

Unknown said...

I remember being excited to wear our spring coats to church on Easter Sunday even if it was too cold!

Nora said...

Whatever happened to kids wearing Easter hats? I used to when I was little and LOVED it. I also loved the white Easter shoes that I had and begged to wear them all the time, but I wasn't allowed to so as to avoid scuff marks.

I love spring because it means the promise of summer... otherwise it's not my favorite thanks to the pollen =)

Leigh said...

I grew up in Ontario and the springs were beautiful there! Alberta doesn't have a very nice spring...goes from cold to a few random nice days to a snow storm to summer. Spring reminds me garage sales and riding bikes!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

The only time I've ever liked spring was when I was in school in North Carolina. Spring began in March there with sunny skies and temps in the 70s. Everything was in bloom and it was dreamy.

Everywhere else I've lived, spring is my least favorite time of year. It's usually cold and damp and actually pretty dreary. I'd honestly take a good snow storm over what we're having right now.

Anonymous said...

I have always wanted to learn piano! That's so cool that you taught it later on. This is such a fun series! :)

Amber said...

Where I grew up spring is a muddy, mucky, icky season as LOTS of snow melts and leaves mud in it's path. We also would occasionally get snow storms as late as April, May and even JUNE! I don't ever remember being a huge fan of spring to be honest, fall and summer have always been my favourite seasons!

Alli said...

Spring is a bit hit or miss in the NYC metro area, but it's definitely usually warmer than where you're from and since we don't get that much snow in the winter (except for last year!) we don't get that crazy mud effect. I am a summer girl more than anything else, always have been, but I like that Spring reminds me that Summer is coming soon and I love that it means Winter is far away! The only thing I hate is the allergies!

Charis Faith said...

I don't think I loved spring growing up because for several years my mom forced me to play softball, and I hated it. Then I voluntarily played until I took a flyball in the face and that ended my softball career forever.

I loved/adored spring in college there is no place like the mountains in the springtime, it's heavenly.

Now I love spring because it holds the promise of summer and summer nights and everything looks so beautiful and fresh!!!

Caroline said...

I've always loved Spring. Growing up, Spring meant the start of softball season, the ending of school and summer vacation quickly approaching. It was so nice after a long Boston winter to be able to get outside. Now as an adult out of school, Spring doesn't feel quite as awesome but I still love it.

San said...

To be honest, I never thought of Spring in particular... yes, it's a Season, yes, it comes every year, but I don't associate specific memories with spring (besides our Easter skiing vacation maybe ;)).


BUT: I had no idea you played the piano! Me, too! One more thing we have in common! Yay!

Cherry Blossoms said...

I was the same way about the flowers. I remember getting so excited when I would see our tulip buds popping thru. My mom had a beautiful flower gardens (peonies,daffodils, tulips, rose bushes you name it)
Great childhood memories :)

Marisa A. said...

Ummm...I think we were the same child! I LIVED for my Easter dress and bonnet and soooo looked forward to busting my bike out of the basement! Annnnddd....I loved piano recital season!

Becky said...

I don't know that I have any specific "spring" memories as a child, except maybe Easter dresses! I'm not a big fan of spring (mostly because of allergies), but I like when the weather cooperates and we actually get a transition season - something we seem to be getting less and less of.

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

I have always loved Spring!!!!

Abby said...

Love this post! It is so nostalgic to me, since my childhood was so similar. You know...since we grew up in the same house and all ;-).

I loved the day Dad got our bikes out of the shed!! Such an exciting deal. And when the Tastee Freeze opened?! Spring gave such an exciting promise that lake season was soon to come.