Hurry Up And Wait

      I think it's finally safe to say that spring has sprung.  I'm envious of locations that don't even have to deal with the change of seasons where all you have is "warm" and "warmer".  Here where I live, as is the case in many other places, we've had a full winter...snow, cold, wind.  It may have hit late but it sure made up for lost time...and it lingered on just so we could have the full effect.  I'm sure we may get another blast or two before things are wrapped up for the year.  I nice snowstorm in April wouldn't surprise me one bit.  Not like that hasn't happened before.

      At hand for the moment is springtime and we've been waiting so long for it to hit.  Now maybe, we can catch up with everyone else.  For weeks, I've been seeing others here rub it in posting pictures of flowers and robins.  We still had winter weather.  Everytime someone would mention how nice it is where they live, I'd look out the window here...gray sky with no sun, sub-zero temperatures and a blanket of white covering the ground.  The mumbling I'd do under my breath at you people.  The more you'd show off what your garden is producing or how those red-breasted birds decided to take up house in your yard made me think the weather was never going to break here.

      Finally, it happened here...winter started ending.  The temperature began rising and we went from snow to ice to rain.  It was almost overnight the ground became bare and you could see green.  Very little in the way of snow is left now with the exception of a mound here or there the plows piled while clearing the streets.  With the roads remaining bare for more than a day, we can see even more signs of spring.  Potholes.  And with potholes, comes road construction.  And with road construction, comes frustration.

      The side streets and highways will come alive with traffic...and traffic cones.  It seems like they pop up even quicker than a krokus.  This time of year is prime for repairs.  You know every route you take; no matter when you're out driving; will have a crew trying to play catch up and patch up those holes.  They're out there with the fill and blacktop and they won't stop until every hole is history...except the one at the end of your driveway...which they inevitably save for last.  And they're going to wait until you have to go somewhere before they pull that dump truck up to the curb.  You walk out to a work in progress and stare in disbelief.  They've had all day and now they show up.  It's only going to take a minute...we'll be right out of your way.  They have the loose asphalt pulled up and have dug the bottom out making a crater twice the size it was.  You're patience is wearing thin and you're really on a time schedule.  All of a sudden, you notice the workers sitting down on break.  Hey!  I've gotta go here!  Sorry, we ran out of blacktop and the next truck should be here within half an hour.  Across the lawn and over the curb you drive hoping there won't be too much trouble because of the lovely ruts you've put in the yard now.

      You're on your way to work and traffic is starting to slow down and back up.  Maybe it's an accident up ahead.  You notice yellow trucks; not the red of the rescue vehicle you were expecting to see.  There's no officer investigating or directing cars around the scene.  There's a guy with a "Stop" sign up ahead and all vehicles in front of you have come to a complete halt.  The road is down to one lane with repairs being made.  You turn the corner to avoid the jam...only to drive down another street where construction is being done.  You can't win for losing.

      Out on the expressway you head to make up time you've lost in the delays.  You're bopping along at a good rate of speed; radio blaring while you get back on track.  Two more exits and you turn off.  You notice to the right cars are slowing down and you just think they're getting off on the next ramp.  Then the cars in front beging to slow as well.  Must be a bottleneck...someone trying to get into the next lane so they can leave the expressway.  Why are the vehicles to the left of me slowing as well?  No, it can't be.  There's more road work up ahead.  

      At least you're not alone.  Everyone is stuck just like you.  Not much to do in a situation like this.  You take a few sips from your coffee and change the music in your compact disc player.  That killed off a whole thirty seconds.  The traffic will break in a moment and you'll be on your way.  No movement at all.  You start to look around at the others in the same predicament.  There's one yapping away on his cell phone trying to explain to the boss why he's going to be late.  There's a mom in a mini van yelling at the kids through the rear view mirror.  Look at that goober over there picking his nose.  Never pick your nose in the car because someone is always going to catch you.  That's not so funny in itself, but the look on their face sure is when they notice they just got caught.  You almost feel compelled to keep an eye on him...just to see what he's going to do with it.  Please let his hand disappear and not move to his mouth!  

      Ten minutes later, traffic starts moving at a snail's pace trying to get through the construction area.  Even though everyone knows what's going on, why does everyone have to rubberneck once you get there...just to make sure you were right.  You get traveling again and it's clear sailing all the way to the office.  You make your final turn to approach the entrance to the parking garage...and there's yet another work crew.  They're repairing the hole in front of the ramp and you're not going to get in.  Now, it's driving up and down the side streets looking for a spot or hoping you run across someone who's leaving so you can take their place.  You run to the office out of breath and make it just in time...to go to lunch.

      Warmth, sunshine, longer days, flowers, birdies and road work.  Those are all sure signs of spring.  Aren't you glad you waited so long for this?  Now that it's finally here, bet you can't wait for it to be over?  When is summer going to start?