Spring

Spring has arrived in Manitoba. In the space of five days the snow that had made its home on the ground for the past six months disappeared, ice has turned sidewalks to puddles and the news all around us is whether the ice flows will cause flooding as the river melts.

But for me, spring means people emerging from hibernation. Our area of town, despite its negative reputation, is still one of the last places in the city where people spend their evenings on their front porches, talking to neighbours. Kids still play in each other's yards and on the streets, and people still lean over fences to discus current events, the latest flood update or just catch up with each other. Okay, so its not quite as idyllic as it sounds, but there is a beauty to that atmosphere, and it brings almost a small-town feel back to the neighbourhood. Teens have been knocking on my door this week: they were out and about and wanted to stop by to show me a picture of a new neice, ask a question about employment, or just say hi. The neighbourhood has come alive again and I feel like I am a part of it, and I appreciate that.