Four Seasons
One of the things I love about Nebraska, but rarely think about, is the fact that there are four distinct seasons each year. Oh I find something to grumble about in each season (it’s too muddy, too hot, everything is dying, and it’s sometimes tricky to drive on the ice and snow), but I still value the shifts between seasons.
I’ve given it some thought and decided that there are two major reasons I value experiencing different seasons. First, the changes create a sense of urgency. This isn’t the sudden “my life is quickly slipping away” sense that birthdays and anniversaries can generate. Instead it’s a gentle, consistent reminder that time is passing. Ubiquitous is probably the best word for this reminder. Always there, but rarely intrusive and yet still impossible not to notice. Everything points to these seasonal changes: my wardrobe, the food I eat, the thermostat, the driving conditions. All these things gently remind me of the time of year and the passage of time.
The second reason I love having four seasons is the unique activities associated with each. I first relish these new activities and then long for the activities associated with the next. For example, although I celebrate new sprout in May, by August I am sick of weeding and eating zuchini and ready to switch gears, make some zuchini free chili and watch football. I’m not fickle, I just need variety.
So what do you enjoy doing each season? Did you go to see the crane migration this season? Did you know that people travel to Nebraska from all over the world to see it? The Department of Game and Parks website says “Witnessing the gathering of half a million cranes under a blazon Nebraska sunset stirs our senses and sparks our imagination like few experiences can.” Check out Nebraska’s tourism website for more seasonal activities.
