Now that Easter is past, and the calendars are about to turn to May, I see the grass is beginning to spring up in yards and fields. Those rainy days that I am not fond of are helping the process of greening things up.
Some of the trees have begun to bud out, and soon the leaves will spring forth. This time of year is pure joy to watch the different hues of green as I travel throughout the countryside. The downside of this is allergies are stuffing up my nose and giving me itching eyes. There is a hacking cough and an occasional headache; however, this, too, shall pass.
Flocks of geese are calling overhead, too, while winding their way north. I enjoy that sight, be it spring or fall. There is something about the call of the geese that makes me stop and look up in wonder, at how they know where they are going.
In between the raindrops, school spring sports are being played. This year, I have been following the Tigerton softball team, because I have a granddaughter on the team. This has involved doubleheaders and marathon games. After four games, they haven’t tasted a loss as of yet.
I have always enjoyed softball, even though I didn’t like to play it. Girl sports weren’t in school when I attended, however my one-room country school days were filled with recesses where all the kids went out and played softball.
I was scared of the ball hitting me, and I didn’t have a glove, so I always hoped none came my way. I remember when Mrs. Brietenfeldt was the teacher, she came out and played with the kids. Many years later, when I was interviewing her for an article for the Senior Leader, she shared the story of being hit in the head with the ball one day.
She said she was knocked down and out. When she woke up, the kids were standing around her and one of them asked, “Are you dead?”
I am not sure if I was absent that day, or if I just didn’t remember the event, but I can imagine what a sight that must have been.
Things have changed since those days at the one-room Excelsior School. All grades in one room, no running water, and a coal furnace for heat in the winter. No one had computers, nor even calculators. I suspect, even if they were invented, they would never have been allowed.
I recall that families were involved in the country school. There were picnics, Christmas gatherings and other events. Right across the road from the school was the Maple Grove cheese factory. All the neighborhood children went to the school, and the farmers took their milk to the cheese factory.
So, our neighborhood was close knit. Farmers helped each other during the busy times of the year. Kids knew each other, and whenever there was a neighborhood party, we all went and enjoyed the evening.
So bring on the greens of spring. I am ready for May flowers.
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