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in Just (or How California Has Seasons)

3/19/2013

1 Comment

 
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There’s a common misconception that California exhibits no seasons. One may have to tune-in to subtleties—tasting the air and noting the day’s tinted lens with a keen eye--but California most surely has seasons.

Just over a week ago the saturated graphite sky sunk low and dumped hailstones that clattered so loudly my husband could barely hear me when I tried to tell him what was happening over the phone. They gathered like snow in drifty patches and lasted for several hours. That whole week had been dreary. We bundled like children when walking the dogs, and I sat watching TV with thick socks on and a blanket slung over me.

But since then the season has changed palpably. I began to see it in the lavender blooms or the fuchsia patches circling certain homes by the side of the freeway as I headed south to San Diego this weekend. Suddenly hummingbirds are plentiful, and berry-like buds and cocoon-wrapped leaves have appeared in the scaffolding branches of deciduous trees. 

I felt it when I sat in my courtyard with a friend sipping coffee only to go indoors and realize we were both a little sunburned.

Today it is spring. Observe the diffuse, pale light and the plushness of the air. Feel the breeze so slight it only tilts the poppies or pansies … heartier flowers stay still. It rose from the 40s to the 80s in a week, and one gets the sense we can shove those heavier coats deeper into our closets, or just into storage.

One of my favorite works describing spring is in e.e. cummings’ in Just:

in Just-

by: e.e. cummings (1894-1962)

IN Just-

spring when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame baloonman

 

whistles far and wee

 

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

 

when the world is puddle-wonderful

 

the queer

old baloonman whistles

far and wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing 

1 Comment
Mario Dimain
3/25/2013 09:46:49 pm

Very interesting, Pamela. Thank you for enlightening us about the seasons in California. Up here in Ontario, Canada, after the extreme cold of winter, the coming of spring is good news. In all four seasons, autumn is the season that made Ontario famous for its vibrant colours.

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    Pamela Langley

    In the past decade I have written memoirs for a nun, tutored children from Somalia, edited a college literary magazine, interned at Literary Arts in Portland,  published a few stories, graduated from University with highest honors, given a speech to a packed house at the Schnitz, remodeled a fixer-upper, written grants for programs that helped, extended my emotional /intellectual horizons, made an intra-state move, started a business, regained my groove, placed my finger back on the pulse, joined Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn, bought a smartphone,  traveled, raised puppies, and most importantly--honed my writing skills. I bare myself here on The Paper Garden and hope some moments will resonate with you.

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