Breaking up

Dear Diary,

The pond is showing its first reflections now that the ice has receded from the edges far enough to reveal the pines that ring its shore.  Patches near the center are showing signs of thinning too.  It won't be long now.  Ponds nearby seem further along in the process but my little pond is more sheltered from the sun.

This slow transition is part of spring in Maine.  No great leap into warm weather but a gradual emergence from the cocoon of winter.  We are all anxious for the warm weather but I am trying hard to embrace this in-between place as I watch the pond shed its icy cloak.  Feeling comfortable with the "either/and" nature of a New England spring is good training for life in general I find where very little is either/or...there is always a grey middle ground.we must resolve.