Time for a new beginning! Soon the branches of the trees outside my window will be laden with leaves of green. Mother Nature will be rolling back her winter blanket to expose a myriad of color, from the yellow daffodils and bright red tulips, to the purple crocuses. Bushes will be bursting with forsythia blossoms and birds will come out of hiding to feast on the seed my neighbors supply in generous quantities. The days are longer when Spring arrives, giving us more time to observe the beauty around us. And come May, the scent of lilacs will fill the air. 

As Mother Nature is rolling back her winter blanket, I will be rolling back the winter cover that has protected Laughing Gull from harsh winter winds and snow. The chore of readying her for yet another season on the water will begin. This is the 43rd year Laughing Gull and I will share the adventures of the open sea. So, while nature is bursting with color and new growth, I will be sanding and scraping Laughing Gull's hull. And while the scent of spring is wafting through the air back home, the odor of varnish will permeate my nostrils. 

There are so many paths we may choose come Spring. My path has led me to the sea. And while others marvel at the new, amazing landscape, my head is filled with the anticipation of waves splashing against the hull, seagulls flying aloft and the view of the clear blue sky reaching down to touch the sea. 

Yes, Spring is a time for new beginnings. And although we may not always understand the path others choose to welcome the new season, we realize that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Spring is here. Oh the joy!