Vernal Equinox

Spring arrives today with its requisite rain showers predicted.

Here's how my grandfather, W.D. "Golly" Fish remembered a long ago spring ..

A pleasant memory –

It may have been a dozen years ago. The season was spring when the early birds were returning from the south. The locale was the East Second Street bridge over the Allegheny River.

There was at the time an elm tree on the river bank perhaps 25 or 30 feet in height. There was a gently but copious fall of soft snow that melted almost as soon as it touched the earth.

At the very top of the tree was a Song Sparrow, pouring forth his most liquid and delightful song. The long winter was gone and Golly was thrilled as he listened. He wished he could join in the sweet melody.

Since he could not, he silently thanked the little Song Sparrow, and wished for him and his mate a happy family life in the north, plentiful food, with a safe journey back south in the autumn.

Just one of Golly's many cherished memories.

– from 1965