Pulling weeds is just playing in the dirt

It is time to stock up on half price Easter candy to ensure you have enough energy to clean up the yard in preparation for the first mowing of the year.
Even though I’ve picked up trash several times this year, the bushes have replenished their hordes of plastic bags, cups and the detritus of modern life. I think a couple of them have taken up smoking as I have found many empty cigarette packages and the usual nasty butts. The trees have gotten in on the act by shedding any and all loose branches.
It’s going to take a lot of hollow chocolate bunnies to get through all that has to be done. And Peeps. We mustn’t forget Peeps. My daughter said they played a game with Peeps this Easter. The object was to see how many Peeps a person could stuff into their mouth and still say, “Easter Bunny.” It resulted in a lot of laughter by one and all.
My own Easter didn’t involve Peeps or chocolate bunnies. It did involve being outside to appreciate the beautiful day. I started the weekend by planting onions. It felt so good to have dirt under my nails again. One of the guys in the carving club said he planted potatoes last week. I planted potatoes once. The squirrels dug them up, took a single bite, then tossed the potatoes all over the yard. I think I harvested one, lonely potato that year. I haven’t planted them since.
I started cleaning up the flower beds a week or so ago. It was a little early to be doing that but I wanted an excuse to be outside soaking up the sun. A portly gentleman I had never seen before asked if I had heard of a product named Preen. He assured me it would do the job without hurting my flowers.
I told him I had heard of the product but preferred not to use it. The tone of his voice as he told me that he thought some people just enjoyed pulling weeds said he thought I was nuts or maybe just plain stupid.
I have nothing against Preen and know people who swear by it. That is fine. But for me the act of pulling weeds has very little to do with cleaning up the flower beds. It is an excuse to mess around in the dirt. It gets me close enough to see emerging shoots, to feel the differences in the leaves, to smell the unique scents and to hear the soft sounds made when the breezes blow and the leaves rub together.
If you see me sitting on the ground, be assured that I need to be there. I need to take out my frustrations on unsuspecting weeds. I need time to remember my mom’s spring ritual of repainting the tractor tire with shiny silver paint, topping it off with fresh soil from the pasture and planting pansies in the middle.
Sometimes I need time to breathe. Sometimes we all need time to breathe. We need to feel the sun on our backs. We need a break from technology. We need a break from everything. Except hollow chocolate bunnies and Peeps. They are around for such a short time that I cherish every moment I have with them.
Easter is over and candy is on sale. The outdoors beckons and practically forces us to leave our comfortable chairs. Soon the smell of freshly cut grass will permeate the air. Now if you will excuse me, I have things to plant and weeds to pull.