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The First Time I Had Spring Fever

By Eliza Bicknell of Lotus Petal Yoga

I grew up in Los Angeles. There really aren’t any seasons in Los Angeles, at least none that I remember. It doesn’t snow, it rarely rains, and the temperature is usually pretty mild. Fog that sometimes was carried in from the ocean was always a special treat, as were the really rainy days.

I remember taking family vacations up to the mountains, my brother and I sitting by the window gazing longingly at the thermometer outside, hoping by sheer will that it would drop down to 32 degrees which we knew meant snow. On the occasions when it did snow, we enjoyed sledding, snow ball fights, breaking off icicles from anywhere that had them, and that greatest of all pleasures for a small child, eating snow. Yes those were good memories indeed.
When I turned 18 I was on a mission to leave Los Angeles never to return. I choose to go to college in Colorado as I not only wanted to climb mountains and rocks, but I wanted to live in them. So it was that I, a city girl, ended up in Boulder Colorado, a place that changed my life forever (but that’s another story).

My freshman year at the University of Colorado I didn’t really notice the spring fever setting in to those around me as I was so caught up in the fascination of winter. The first snow of the season had me along with all the others from California, Arizona, Florida and Hawaii outside screaming in sheer joy at the sight of that white stuff falling from the sky. Our snowball fights were never ending. My friends from Colorado thought we were insane, and indeed looking back, it was rather insane that I actually thought it was fun to scrape the ice off of the car that first time around. I watched with glee as students all around me adorned gloves, hats and scarves after a lecture to go outside. I learned the unfortunate fact that the brakes in my car didn’t work so well on a sheet of ice. When spring did come, I marveled at the tulips, daffodils, crocus and other bulbs that seemed to spring up out of nowhere along the city streets. While California certainly has beautiful flowers blooming at all times of the year, there are no bulbs as bulbs need a dormant cold season to grow. (I remember my mom keeping tulip bulbs in the freezer one winter in a desperate and unsuccessful attempt to grow them.)

Sophomore year I still enjoyed the winter and snow as much but when spring came around something was different. Though it was many many years ago now, one day stands out clearly in my mind. A friend from Los Angeles had surprised me and showed up in my dorm room for a quick 2 day visit. The weather forecast for the next day was 80 degrees. 80 degrees! 80 degrees I screamed at him, its going to be 80 degrees tomorrow!!! He looked at me like I was insane. He turned to me and said ‘its going to be 80 degrees, SO WHAT, WHO CARES?’ He just didn’t get it. I literally could not contain my excitement at the thought of a warm, sunny 80 degree day. This meant shorts, cutting class and playing Frisbee on the lawn. That is precisely what we did the next day, us and the entire rest of the student body. My friend looked around and listened as everyone ran around in a mad frenzy of sheer joy, not a sad disposition in sight.

I never knew what spring fever was until then, like my friend, I just didn’t get it. Now, spring is my all time favorite season. I admit that I save up all of my sick days at work so that when one of those first 70 or 80 degree days comes up I am sure to be out there enjoying it. I love watching the brown landscape turn green, the trees budding and then bursting with green, the birds, especially the hummingbirds, as they return, the ladybugs as they seemingly just appear and the snow melts to swell the creeks. The flowers that spring up all over town and in my yard bring me the greatest joy, their vibrant colors bursting forth. I inhale deeper as each and every scent is life coming back. My dreams are of glorious warm days and nights, of exploring the outdoors, rock climbing and hiking, of the ocean (even though it is not usually accessible to me). Best of all, during spring, everyone is joyous. Everyone has a smile on their face and a spring in their step, its simply impossible not to.

Contributor's Note

Today it was a wonderful sunny 70 degrees, however, tomorrow they are calling for a snow storm, just a typical spring in the Rockies.

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Nice story Eliza. I lived in L.A. for a year in 1980. We did get a lot of rain that year between January and April. That time of year, the smog levels were way down and you could actually see the San Gabriel Mountains.

I remember when I first got there. We went to an open area mall type thing in Century City. The temps were in the mid 70's. We were in shorts and t-shirts. We ran across a couple of girls wearing fur jackets and leg warmers. LEG WARMERS for crying out loud! But after living there for a while when the winter temps were in their 60's, it felt cold and there I was in my winter jacket -- freezing.

its so true what you say. When I would come back to visit from college during the holidays in winter I would step off the plane and it felt SO warm. then a day or so later it felt cold in the 60's. HUmidity plays a role in that too I know but still its kind of interesting.

One of the great advantages of living in New England is the four seasons. Spring is the most welcomed, as the world of color and fragrance start to SPRING OUT at you.
Thank you for sharing, Eliza.
Best wishes.
Frederick

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