Cold is the word of the day and it’s going to be the word of the week. In my mind February is always grouped with December and January and is still winter while March is nearly spring, not yet spring but nearly spring. Baseball fills the sports’ pages, the bulbs are poking their heads out of the ground and the garden stores have seeds and starter boxes. We just can’t plant outside. For that, we have to wait until it’s really spring.

Today is a full day. This morning I have to attend the funeral for my friend’s stepfather; this afternoon Gracie has a well dog visit, and tonight is trivia. Somewhere in there I have to fit in a trip to the dump. Yesterday I had nothing to do; today is filled. It’s weird how my days seem to work out that way.

When I was a kid, I’d sometimes get bored, especially during the summer. I’d tire of the pool, my bike and even the library. I’d whine to my mother there was nothing to do, and she’d make suggestions, all of which irrefutably proved to me that parents had never been children.

When I got older, around high school age, there never seemed to be enough time to be bored. I left for school at 6:45 and was seldom home before 4:45. I’d do my homework, have dinner, watch a TV show or two and then head to bed. Most of the week I was so tired, I could barely drag myself to the weekends. College was different. Carrying five courses each semester seemed like a walk in the park compared to high school. I seldom had more than three classes a day, and then all the rest of the day was mine. I loved college.

Before I retired, I was up every day at 5 or no later than 5:15. I was at work by 6:30 and seldom home before 4. Many nights I had meetings so I hurried home to take care of the dog, grab a bite then go right back out. I prayed for boredom.

It’s funny now. I have plenty of time on my hands, and I am never bored. I read, take a ride, play on the computer or even nap. Sometimes I stand by the window and watch the birds at the feeders. I seem to fill even the emptiest of days.