The sun was here a while back but has since gone elsewhere though it is supposed to return. It is one of those partially cloudy days. It is cold, in the 30’s, and won’t get any warmer. The wind is still around. I heard a noise earlier and found Miss Nala trying to get a box through the dog door. It stayed in the kitchen, but I noticed another box was missing. I went into the yard and found the box and wrappers from stolen foods. I did a quick cleanup. Most of the wrappers were old. I have been successful of late in keeping the food safe from felonious Nala.

When I was a kid, winter fun was dependent upon the weather. If it was really cold, we could go ice skating on the swamp. If it was snowy, we could go sledding down the hill. I remember we also built forts in the snow piles left by the plows. One year the snow was so high we built a tall fort with rooms. We used water to make the walls icy hard. The first room was the biggest. That was where we mostly hung out. We’d sit inside and eat lunch. From there a small, narrow passageway led to the next room and another passageway led to the last room. That fort with its icy walls lasted through the winter and was the last pile of snow to melt.

The only chain store in my town when I was a kid was the First National grocery store. The other shops and stores were unique. We had a Chinese restaurant, The China Moon, a McDonald’s sort called Carrolls, Santoro’s Sub Shop and the Stoneham Spa. Hank’s was the best bakery. I used to stand outside by the picture window where I could smell the aroma of bread baking. Grant’s and Woolworth’s were on the same block. I always thought Woolworth’s was the shopping spot for kids, not Grant’s. We had three drug stores, two of them right up-town. Both of those had a fountain. The movie theater was smack dab in the middle of the square. I remember the first time I went to a night movie. It was a fund raiser for my girl scout troop. I wore my uniform and greeted people at the doors. I felt almost famous.

Today is one of those springlike days March sometimes teases us with while keeping winter in the wings. It will be warmish, in the high 40’s or low 50’s. The sun has been a stranger lately but is back today in all its glory. Not a cloud can be seen. A bit of a cool wind strong enough to blow the chimes hanging on a backyard tree comes and goes. I heard the tinkling of the chimes when I went to check on Nala and what she was eating. I’m always suspicious with that dog. This time she was sort of innocent. She was chewing on an orange handle from a garden tool. I don’t know where the rest of the tool went. She ran. I didn’t give chase; instead, I sat down on the backyard stairs for a bit to listen to the chimes, to their sweet sounds.

When I was a kid, I would have begged my mother to let me ride my bike to school on a day like today when I could feel spring in the air. I’d try to get away with wearing a light spring jacket, but my mother usually caught me and nixed that; however, she did relent on the mittens and the hat. There I was on my bike no longer dressed for the depths of winter. I felt a sort of freedom.

After lunch, we’d have recess. That was when the nuns went across the street to the convent and had their lunches. I figured we weren’t supposed to see nuns eat. I always thought that was a bit strange given Sister Hildegarde hid candy bars in her desk drawer and surreptitiously put the candy in her mouth. The chewing always gave her away. Then there was the time she spit nuts on my paper when I brought it to her desk.

My dance card is filled, mostly with uke. I have practice tomorrow and a lesson Wednesday. On Saturday we are in the St. Patrick’s day parade riding a flat bed truck and playing Irish music. It is supposed to be an ugly day, maybe even a rainy day. On Sunday we are playing at the mall.

My dafs have bulbs, and I can see the start of the day lilies, small tips of green poking out of the dirt in the front yard. I like to check on them every morning. The green, growing taller, is a hopeful sign.

Kat is not posting today. I am taking a short break. I didn’t sleep a whole lot last night, and I’m ready for a nap.

The sun was here earlier but has since disappeared. it is 41° and rain is predicted. That sounds like that a perfect day to do nothing, to sleep away the afternoon.

I’ll be back tomorrow, well rested!!