Tuesday, March 11, 2008

On the Cusp


I really think it's almost here... I can smell it... I can see it... I can feel it... Buds bursting, cherry blossom festival planning, sun staying, warmer temperature... it really IS on the cusp. Today I saw cherry blossoms playing hide and seek at the University of DC. Yesterday on the way home from the gym I saw some lovely purple blossoms poking out. I can hardly contain myself...

I'm on the prowl for spring. I'm actually on the prowl for a lot of things. It's this on the prowl, on the verge, on the cusp that's so exciting. I've been working away madly on a paper for a conference, hoping I can turn it into a dissertation chapter, and at the least, the final paper for my research methods seminar. I've uncovered every stone, explored every possibility, emailed every archive and list-serv in search for that blossom, that bloom, that proof of evidence that proves my thesis.

Yesterday I went through 7,000+ images on the New York Public Library website and found a trail that I followed today at the University of DC. That in and of itself was an entirely new experience--not only was I the only white person in the vicinity (I felt like I was back in Harlem!), but the layout of the library was extremely odd--the microfilm things I needed on the 2nd floor but all the reference help on the 5th floor, and the only way in between was to go back down to the 1st floor and take the elevator up, then being passed around from Mr. Hooper to Miss Bloom to who knows what. But that small lead was everything... I'm on the cusp... it's going to burst any day now.

I love being on the cusp in other ways, too... spring, I'm ready for you!

4 comments:

Lael said...

I know it is wrong wrong wrong, but in my heart of hearts, I hope global warming will have the effect of warming up where I live to a more San Diego-like environment. The crocuses have come up a week earlier this year, so maybe?

Unknown said...

Nice post JR. You're on the cusp, I'm on the brink. LOVE YOU! JB

The Wyler Family said...

i agree... i'm so ready for spring! just a note... don't have a winter baby if you live somewhere cold. i have felt so cooped up this winter. the weather has been beautiful, though, in the last couple weeks. we've been outside every single day for as long as possible.

Jill said...

Have you seen the Magnolia trees? It's hard for me to exercise and run past them in the morning when I do because I just want to stop and smell them! Can't we just say it-- SPRING IS HERE! (and I'm tired of wearing a coat!)