But what story does it tell? As John Cleese playing the police detective might ask “What’s all this, then?” Are these merely random items left behind on a warmer day by some kid? Pieces in some kind of art installation, striving for some kind of meaning? This much we know: there’s the first new growth popping out of the ground since last fall, with lingering elements of a winter on the way out; wandering in this landscape we find a creature, in eye-popping colors, that is the poster child for species extinction, as well as a second creature that is facing eventual extinction in the present day, as the polar regions melt away. And then whizzing by in the background there’s that biker, in what looks like full-sprint mode (displaying rather good form, in fact). Are they on their way to win some race, or are they just trying to get the hell away from whatever’s going on here? Or is it something completely different?
Come late February in New England “winter fatigue” is a universal phenomenon shared by many, and that first snowmelt that exposes signs of spring-to-come is a big deal in the best way. The humble snowdrop plays the starring role in this little seasonal drama which so many await each year with much anticipation. Some years, after an especially dragged-out snow season, this can devolve into annoyed impatience. This year was headed that way for awhile, but now finally here they are, to the great relief of all.
The coming of the warmth is always a good thing, right? The changing seasons are a blessing – those that don’t see it that way move to the sunbelt and good luck (or good riddance) to them (said the man who grew up in southern California and left it for the northeast a long time ago, with no regrets). But now it has come to pass that too much warmth on too great a scale is a very very bad thing; this dinosaur and penguin symbolize elements of that, and we all love symbolism, of course, it’s so adult and intellectual.
And the biker? Spring is the best thing that can happen to a biker, who treads lightly on the planet, the kind of behavior which we all know is key to our species longterm survival. And the joy expressed by a biker in all-out sprint mode is icing on the cake. Whatever confused or sensible message this vernal backyard tableau may suggest to you, don’t forget there’s joy in there, somewhere, and maybe even a bit of hope.
