Unarmed and muddy

There is a time between the cold bitterness of winter and the renewal of spring. Somewhere between when the snow is completely gone and flowers bloom.

This is that time. I'd like to add a new season, one that falls right here. It's called Sludge.

I enjoy the warmth of the sun, and the fact that it's rising earlier. I also enjoy waking up before my alarm goes off.

This winter has been a long and cold one, and I'm glad to see it finally coming to an end.

But, as the snow melts, the winter debris that had been buried is now exposed. The muddy, pooling water with discarded coffee cups and other tossed items litter the streets in a mushy, sloppy mess.

During this particular transitional period, it seems I have a bit of a dilemma.

I really want to wash my vehicle.

But as I arm myself with a wand full of sudsy water, I know fighting this mud battle is one I'm sure to lose.

I live on a gravel road.

It's dirty all times of the year, but at this particular moment of snow melt and dirt exposure, washing my car is much like bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Entirely pointless.

In addition to the muckiness of the winter spring transition, my particular location is also faced with construction off the east exit road which is extremely muddy, chewed up by large equipment and semi trucks, and definitely not drivable.

To the west, is a partially blocked off road where a water main break occurred this winter and is now just a watery sink hole of muck.

I am, by no means, complaining about the conditions which surround my place of residence. It happens. No one is to blame for the earth's erosion from the harshness of winter. That's just how things go at this time of year. Pot holes are everywhere and non-paved roads turn to mush if heavily driven. And they can't be fixed... yet.

It's not fixing the roads that concern me, that will happen in time. I just don't want to drive a ball of dirt everywhere I go.

My vehicle looks like it's been mud bogging and I haven't even left town.

No other seasonal transition causes as much upheaval as that of the winter/spring.