What a glorious morning for my 3 ¼ mile walk today. It seemed the whole world woke up early and decided to get out of the house and celebrate this beautiful day. It seems hard to believe a mere two weeks ago we had snow flurries. This was my longest walk this season, 6,600 steps roundtrip, and tonight as I am writing this post, I feel every one of those steps. In fact I was sitting eating dinner and nodded off. Poor Buddy starting singing as loud as he could to get my attention (smile). Such a cacophony of sounds as I made my way to Council Point Park, each competing with one another to disturb the peace on this Saturday morning. The grass is now so lush and dark green and everywhere I looked men were snapping the mower start-up cord (and subsequently cussing each time it didn’t start) or pushing sputtering lawn mowers over already too-high grass. The droning whirr of weed whackers sounded like a zillion bees as gardeners whipped down the tall grass and weeds that spurted up at the speed of sound the past few weeks. I rounded a corner and glanced in a yard after hearing the sound of children’s laughter as they bounced on a trampoline, and a golden lab, caught up in the gaiety, was romping ‘round and ‘round the trampoline vicariously enjoying their fun. A sprinkler spritzed water to a fake lawn patch (which will never grow as the birds will feast on it first and render it useless) and a dapper gent walking his dog cried out in a foreign tongue as he removed his soaked newsboy cap from his head and then marched off. I heard several motorcycles whizzing by and their riders gunning the motors at each stop sign. People sat on porch steps drinking a steaming cup of their favorite morning brew and called out good morning to me. I heard a creaking noise and swiveled my head to watch an elderly couple sitting on a porch glider, hands linked, their rhythmic rocking perfectly synchronized. Just before I got to the Park entrance I watched a brave little soul tooling along on her pink two-wheeler with training wheels. She had a matching helmet and pink top and pants. Her parents clapped as she left the driveway and then the training wheels came to a clanking stop on the rough sidewalk and next I heard a wail and she had tipped over. I suspect she is now pretty in pink plus black and blue. All the sounds and action going on are uncharacteristic for an early Saturday morning but people are just glad to be out after such a dismal, cold April and long Michigan Winter. It is 1 ¾ miles from my house to the beginning of the foot path at Council Point Park and the park is actually at the very end of Stewart Avenue where I live. I walked the entire perimeter and it is a fairly wide path which goes down by the Ecorse Creek and winds around the picnic area and roller rink. It is about as scenic as you can get in the heart of a city and I enjoyed it immensely. In stark contrast to the walk to get there, the perimeter path is peaceful and many walkers, joggers and bikers were getting their morning exercise. All were solo, like me, just a handful were tuned into music, but most, like me, were walking and woolgathering. I wish I could go on this walk every day but it took me a solid one and a half hours from start to finish. I came home weary yet with a spring in my step. The lightheartedness that the first warm weekend in Spring brings to your soul is immeasurable. Indeed Spring has sprung.