LINDA JOHNSON
COMMENTARY
Finally. Approach- ing mid-April allows those weary of the seemingly endless winter of 2011 to observe signs of spring. Some of those signs take unusual forms.
Some signs are natural such as the green roots pushing the blonde grass blades to new lengths. For some obscure reason, this year I equated that growth to someone needing dark roots touched up. It is reversed -— since the blonde will be cut off instead of enhanced.
Daffodils are blooming — even with a hopefully final attempt at snow this past Wednesday.
Some signs are traditional, like the potholes that form making straddling the crater difficult to achieve while staying in one’s lane.
There is also a proliferation of earth moving equipment, at the corner of Powell Avenue and South Kenton Street or at the intersection of Powell Avenue and South Main Street, for instance.
Other signs are actually signs — like the banner extended over the island in front of the Speedway on Scioto Street proclaiming the upcoming Annual Kids Health Day sponsored by the YMCA (April 16). The Habitat for Humanity REstore has a new permanent sign. It looks very nice.
Driving on U.S. Route 36 past the former Walmart building this week, I was dismayed to see the amount of debris strewn over the grass. Obvious signs it is time for a spring clean-up.
Finally, I heard a lawn mower in my neighborhood two days ago. Chuck Havens cautioned me that lawn mowing season doesn’t start until April 15. Someone else told him that years ago. He’s adhered to that rule since.
The surest sign of spring is the 30-cent per gallon jump in gas prices last Sunday. Ouch!