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Granite columns and fluffy pink trees (I do love me some fluffy pink trees). Oh, and Seizing the Day.

Carpe Diem.

Seize the Day.

Spring has finally arrived here in my fair state, daffodil’s and tulips dot the gardens.  Flowering cherry, plum and pear trees line the streets and the smell of fresh-cut grass wafts among the neighborhoods.  We will most likely have another snow storm or two before Summer is here, but this week I am enjoying the warmer temperatures and sunny weather.

About a year ago the Capitol Building restoration project was finally completed.  The scaffolding and plastic sheeting that had enclosed the Capitol Building for several years was carted off, the grass was replanted, new guardian lions were put in place and a running trail was built around the Capitol and Legislative complex.  Last year I was shocked, surprised, and delighted to discover the trail is lined with flowering cherry trees.   However, because this is Utah and because no spring weather lasts very long, approximately 36 hours after the blossoms burst open every single tiny pink flower was dashed to pieces due to a massive wind storm.  The spectacle was glorious, but short-lived.

Last week I noticed the first hints of pinkness.  This week the walks are something straight out of  Anne of Green Gables, but, you know, with a giant granite municipal building instead of a quaint island town.  Details…psssh.

Our trees are still small and spindly and immature; but they’re pink!  At least, this week they’re pink.  Unlike Washington, D.C. or San Francisco or Japan (or any older city with a well-established population of cherry trees and a moderately temperate spring climate) we do not have a Festival in conjunction with their flowering.  In fact, I would venture to guess that most resident’s of Salt Lake City do not yet know of their existence.  The Capitol Building is on the top of a hill overlooking the city and marks the origin of one of the busiest streets in the state, kind of like the head of the Mississippi.  Most people don’t go up there unless they have legislative business or a wedding/engagement photo shoot.

I’m distracted.  I’m rambling about traffic patterns and fluffy pink trees when I really wanted to talk about Seizing The Day.

Go ahead.  Seize that Day.

It’s okay, I’ll wait.

Go on now; Seize It.

Except…well, there’s just one teensy little problem; I don’t really know what that means.  I am having a mini-panic attack that some surly kleptomaniac will be snitching Wednesday right from under my nose, stuffing it into an unmarked van and driving helter-skelter off into the wild unless I somehow snatch it up first.  Oh.  That won’t happen?  Well, you can’t be too careful these days.  Alright, jokes aside (I wasn’t really joking about the klepto in the van) yes, I understand the concept, but I’m a bit iffy on how to apply it to my daily life.  I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have anything to do with the pages and pages of lists of countries, cities and places I’d like to visit…someday.  (To be fair I’d love to visit them tomorrow, or yesterday–but funds, timing, Icelandic volcanoes and other mundane things being what they are–those destinations will remain as simply lists for the moment.)  I’m pretty sure that ordering the exact same thing at my favorite Mexican place every single time I have a hankering for pork barbacoa (their specialty) doesn’t really count either.  And I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have anything to do with that adorable-and-possibly-crazy cardigan I bought on a whim (or does it?).

Does buying a plane ticket on a whim count?  What about hosting a dinner party for a bunch of semi-strangers?  Or going back to school?  (University classes start in just under a month.  I’m nervous excited nervous.)  In your opinion, what exactly does it mean to Seize the Day?  And have you done it lately?  And–be honest now–did you need to fend off any shady characters with wit, elbows, and/or pepper spray?

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