Welcoming March

In like a lion and out like a lamb. When I was a little girl, I resented this statement about my birth month, partially because I didn’t think the lion part very nice, but also because it was almost never true. Surely, there were Marches that began with balmy days, and I remember more than a handful of birthday parties, March 20, threatened by snow storms.

In school we made two paper plate animals, you guessed it, a construction paper fringed lion at the start of the month and a cotton ball dotted lamb at the end. At home, I was half-Irish, and so we watched The Quiet Man, planned a party, and a few times went into New York City for the parade. In college I studied abroad in Ireland, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and my 21st birthday for three days straight three days apart. By the time March rolls around in Ireland, spring has fully sprung, with tiny lambs dotting the countryside and daffodils popping up just about everywhere.

As a result of so much fun, March has always been my favorite month. It is, in many ways, for me a month that encompasses the entire cycle of life, birthdays and Spring, and in some years, Easter. It is also the month where, nine years ago, I said a final goodbye to my father and six years ago a dear friend lost a sister, a month punctuated by the closest and most tragic loss I have ever experienced.

After those moments I truly wondered, would I ever want to celebrate anything in March again? But I did. There were Marches earlier on that passed without notice and those that stung like the winter wind where I recalled every second like it was happening all over again.

But, the thing I love about March is that no matter how it starts or how high the snow might pile, it almost always gets warmer, at least for a few days, and suddenly true Spring weather is not that far away. Ultimately, it is a reflection of the human spirit’s ability to come out of darkness, whether it be the darkness of a long winter, or of a loss, a stronger spirit, one that is more appreciative, but one that is as fun and able to celebrate as ever.

For me, this March is a busy one, starting with dinner at Petit Robert Central with friends, followed by a Red White Tasting Crew , my first taste of Saus frites on Thursday, a trip to Napa and Sonoma over the weekend, and several other fun events coming up throughout the month.

After being knocked down by the flu for a week, I am hoping March also brings some new energy and some new life into everything I do, especially exercise, blogging, and hunting for additional meaningful work.

I think we can all use a little renewal, don’t you?

What is your favorite month? Is there a time of year where you most feel ready for a fresh start?

By the way, the above photo was taken in Ireland. . . in JANUARY.