Hope in the sky

It happened last week. Out of nowhere the long V of geese appeared. We heard them before we saw them. They were just little organized specks in the sky. Soon they took focus and people all over Palmer stopped and looked up. There they were. Some people got out of their cars to watch. Some people were at the gas stations and walked away from the pumps to watch. More than a few people just stood in parking lots or on the sidewalks to take the necessary pause and watch the geese return. Of course this annual sight is metaphorical. The arrival of the geese defines reassurance and order. They symbolize the end of winter. Much poetry has been written exalting the return of geese to the winter-lands. There is such a feeling of relief that comes with their return. It is as if we can finally exhale because nature is marking the spring calendar with the return of the noisy geese. Oh and their sounds, their voices are a both a chaotic choir and a reassuring racket. This might be a small thing in the wheel of the year but it is an important thing; Geese Glory time never ceases to give us joy and hope.

Palmer has Two—There seems to be two obvious and distinct climates now around Palmer. In the low flat lands and farm lands, snow is very nearly gone, excepting large drifts of stored or plowed snow. In the woods, mountains and highlands, snow is still very much in the natural majority; but even this abundance of remaining snow has changed character into old, stale, punchy snow. Strange emergents are appearing as the snow melt reveals tires, tools, statuary, and yard furniture. However in the fortunate lowlands there are authentic bits of daffodils, primroses and stalwart red appearances of hearty rhubarb.

Migration is Happening—Our Palmer world is coming alive with trickley little streams, sprouts, baby birds, buds, buttons and blossoms on vegetation, and major migration happening in the skies.

The annual spring migration brings back the swans, hawks, cranes, thrushes and geese. Along with this migration comes the annual feeling of appreciation of our place. It’s been a very long and very harsh winter.

Heavy mother moose are laying down and in the dark woods predators are watchfully waiting. Birch trees are tapped. Cats are out late at night now, scratching in the gravel and marking and re-anointing their territories. Dogs are in full-on ecstasy examining all the winter’s debris and remains. Ants are crawling, moths have hatched and big black flies are waking up. Mudpie lane is firming up but still has some squishy spots. As we observe the spring arrival we can see the blood in the trees and the minuscule buds on the branches. Sap is happening. We look carefully for slight shades of green to appear. Perhaps this year we are more grateful than ever for spring.

Who Let The Girls Out/Spring Fling—This annual first festival in Palmer is a wonderful one. It is this weekend. It is on April 28th and April 29th. Several dozen local businesses participate with prizes, specials, and giveaways. There will be live music and entertainment and there is a passport stamp pass which one fills out as they wander from shop to shop. There will be a gift basket valued at over $1200! The REAL gift however is the joy in community when everyone gathers together to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of our Alaska season. The sponsor list is too long to include in this column but practically all your favorite shops take a serious part of the game. There is a list available at www.wltgoak.com where you can see and plan your map and see what is offered by each establishment. See you in Palmer!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222