MISS SANDY AND THE BLUSTERY DAY, ANOTHER MISS SANDY MISADVENTURE...

The wind is due to "a gentle spring zephyr" rather than a particular holiday.

~Owl, Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day~

(A Very Blustery Day ~ Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw)

Yesterday was a very Poohish kind of day indeed. I observed the waving trees from my window but thought not much of it. A westerly wind was tickling their trunks as they shook in laughter. I noticed the gusts gathering thrust as it played its version of the big bad wolf against the side of our humble abode, huffing and puffing and trying to blow the house down.

Handy Hubby flew in the door with the hem of his jacket flapping out behind him like a kite tail in the wind. His cheeks were as pink as little Piglet declaring it to be "a ferocious kind of wind." He admonished me to be careful of the gusts and the occasional flying debris as I drove into town on some errands. I thought to myself, its just wind, no big deal.

I don't know why I bothered to fix my hair for as soon as I stepped out of the door it began to whip around on my head as the wind ran its fingers through it ruffling it up and out and until I had a do that resembled a porcupine. Not exactly the look I was going for.

Driving into town I was admiring the handy work of the wind. It tickled my fancy to see Sweet Gum balls scuttle across the ground in little clusters bouncing along like tiny tumble weeds. Layer upon layer of cream puff clouds were stacked upon a china blue plate sky. The leftover leaves of autumn gathered themselves up swirling in circles playing ring around the rosie. The bamboo grove swirled and swayed like a bunch of hippie chicks flipping their green tinted hair and upraised arms this way and that to the wild beat of the wind. And I wondered if Owl was right, could this be just "a gentle spring zephyr" or was it a particular holiday being celebrated?

(Winnie the Pooh Soccer by Peter Ellenshaw)

I was surprised by its unexpected rudeness as it literally shoved me along the parking lot giving one final heave as I entered the store almost making me stumble. As the doors swallowed me up I heard a great roar behind me as the blast tried to gain entrance too. How rude!

Upon exiting the store my scarf necked sweater fluttered out behind me in cape style fashion making me feel like a superhero flying into the wind. I saw two little girls no older than three running and leaping into the wind with arms spread wide as if embracing the invisible. Their giggles were carried away on the current, hair streaming out in golden stands, and I wanted to run and leap and giggle with them.

Pulling my attention back to the task at hand I opened my car trunk to deposit my packages just as the sky darkened. Buggies being pushed by invisible patrons began to roll across the parking lot and a certain menace filled the air. I should have heeded Handy Hubby's earlier warning about being careful but I was still daydreaming of flying on the wind with two little golden haired girls in matching striped shirts when it happened.

A sudden whisk of perfectly timed wind slammed into my open car trunk just as I was leaning in to deposit a package. The lid shot down and crashed into my head. Lets just say I was suddenly seeing stars and it was still day time. I was too stunned to move for fear of passing out in the parking lot so I stood stock still and thought how the wind was no longer my friend!

(Winnie the Pooh Spring in the 100 Acre Wood by Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw)

Did you know that in Greek Mythology that Zephyr or Zephyrus, Greek for "the west wind", is known as the gentlest wind and the messenger of spring? Well, he did not have to hit me over the head with the message! After all, I did see his calling card right in my own front yard as tiny sprigs of Iris and Daffodils are poking their sleepy heads from their warm winter beds as they untuck themselves from their blankets of soil where they have been resting all winter. A tad too early in my opinion.

I crawled into my car after chucking the rest of bags into the boot for fear of being stuck again and called Handy Hubby. He asked if I though I needed to see a doctor in case of a concussion but I said I thought I was OK and that my goose egg and I were going home. I was somewhat reluctant to unload the car when I arrived but the thought of soured milk stinking up my car spurred me into action. It would have been funny to watch me dare to reach towards the trunk extending my hand and yanking it back several times before grabbing a bag.

I made it safely into the welcoming arms of Quill Cottage to sit on the sofa with a bag of frozen peas on my birds nest of a hairdo complete with goose egg as the westerly wind laughingly lapped at my windows. I once again admired its handy work as invisible wind babies were being pushed on the swings of the swing set by attentive breezes. I liked seeing the shifting shadow puppet shapes cast on the earth through the sun dappled trees. And, I like that a whiff of spring was in the air.

I forgave the wind for its uproarious behavior knowing that it was with anticipation that a particular holiday worth a riotous celebration was on the horizon ~ Spring!

Blessings,
Miss Sandy