Well, spring has just about sprung. It happens at 12:15 pm EDT and I know that if you are one of the people who read this journal from an Ontario postal code, you cannot wait. We have watched the weather from here on the west coast and just shuddered at how relentless it was for so very long this winter. We couldn’t be happier on everyone’s behalf that the vernal equinox is upon us.
 
Spring, of course, is known as a time of new beginnings. And so, it is not just a coincidence but extremely timely that I go back in time to this day in 2003. What was I doing? (That is exactly the question that Rob asked me when the blog had exactly 30 readers at the outset.)
 
As I sat on a chaise in our bedroom typing away for an hour every night, I had decided I wanted another way to connect with CHFI listeners. I was a big fan of Jann Arden’s blogs, so frank and funny were they at the time. Now she’s a brilliant follow on Twitter or Instagram who shares the highs and deep lows of her life so honestly and with such touching humour that it’s an honour to be let into her life. Jann also turned those musings into a few books, but her latest, Feeding My Mother, has been about her mom’s descent into the depths of Alzheimer’s, as her loving daughter helps where she can and mourns where she cannot.
 
Jann inspired my first journal written on this very day in 2003. And so, with great humility and thanks to you for being with me some, many or all of the days since that first one, I thank you. I’ll keep writing as long as you keep coming here – I do say that fairly often and I mean it – and I hope we’ll never tire of spending time together.
 
This journal has been a lifeline for me in so many ways: when I was let go later that year, 2003, people suddenly knew where to find me. When I came back to radio and later back to CHFI, they knew that too – thanks to this space. When Lauren passed away, you knew I’d tell you all I could right here. And you’ve helped Rob and me in so very many ways as we’ve navigated the choppy waters of mourning and set sail for safer, peaceful harbours out here on the Pacific Ocean.
 
Enjoy this step into the past and I’ll be back with you here tomorrow. And again, thank you.

Thursday March 20, 2003
 
“Little Darlin’…it’s been a long cold lonely winter…it feels like years since it’s been clear…Here Comes the Sun…and I say – it’s all right….” The first day of Spring (even though it doesn’t arrive until tonight) always has me humming that song, and hearing George Harrison’s sweet guitar. I heard he wrote “Here Comes The Sun” while sitting in Eric Clapton’s garden. I always wonder if Eric was off kissing Patti while George was strumming on a bench. Did they canoodle while George just noodled? And what the heck is canoodling, anyway? Whatever it is ~ I can probably use some. Super-size it.
 
Oh, by George, it has been a long winter. Of course, we’ve been spoiled in years past, but when the ceiling at the cottage sprang a leak two weeks ago, and here we’d made it into bloomin’ March without one leak – well, hell (as my mom says) that’s just not fair.
 
But we’ve made it to Spring. This is the day when there are equal hours light and darkness. Only happens twice a year…now and in the fall. Ew. Fall. The f-word. Don’t get me wrong, I love the season! But I don’t want to even think about it right now after the snowy, windy, wet, cold, cold, cold winter we’ve just seen. Bring on summer. Bring on Spring!
 
Spring. Little crocuses popping up their heads like prairie dogs on a Calgary golf course. Little doggie surprises in your backyard of a not-so-fragrant variety! Trees all reaching out their arms filled with promises of fluttering gifts and blossoming wonders. Our hearts swell with the enormous, delicious freshness of it all – as Mother Earth begrudgingly grants pardon for the frigid bleakness thrust upon her for so very, very long. We’re so sorry. That ain’t no way to treat a lady.
 
Spring has arrived, with her basket of forgiveness and rejuvenation. Promise and hope. “What the world needs now…” love, forgiveness, rejuvenation, promise. Hope Springs Eternal. Spring springs eternal. Happy Vernal Equinox! Run around naked. Make love, Not war. And for Heaven’s sake, put on a sweater.