Monday, March 9, 2009

Spring. Please.

As I have mentioned in this space before, time passes in New York in funny ways. Tracking of the four seasons is not just made in nature, but also in the stores windows, the clothes on the backs of the people you pass, and in the stocking of the food market's shelves.

Despite being a big fan of winter snow, I am officially ready for the passing of winter and the start of spring. After last week's blast of snow, I am doing my part to push the coming of spring along by stowing away the sweaters and cleaning out the apartment.

Let's see if my anticipatory actions do their magic, and real spring weather really comes.

In my desperation to find spring, I have been looking in store windows, searching for the inevitable stocking of spring clothes. I have started to see a few spring-like displays. Yet, I cannot help but think that, when we had six inches of snow on the ground, some brilliant store should have plastered up a big sign "SPRING WILL COME, WE PROMISE" and throw up a display of colorful shorts and shirts.

Alas, I have seen no such sign. Instead, I still see plenty of "red tag" sales and "70% off" signs, as though winter, and the economic doldrums that accompanied this one, demand to linger.

So I will look for my first real sign of spring here in New York. When I see it, I will let you know, whether it be found in a storefront, a brightly dressed kid on the street, or the bloom of a flower.

I am ready for it.