It is Springtime when?

Daffodils in my Garden

The signs of springtime are everywhere. In my own garden the daffodils are now in full bloom. Due to the abundance of shade in my gardens, flowers tend to bloom later than elsewhere. It can be frustrating because I see them everywhere else, but then I get to enjoy their blooms later and longer than my neighbors.

The April showers have been excessive. I believe that almost an inch of rain fell yesterday, most of it during my drive home from work. At least the lawn was ready to receive it and the weed and feed I spread on Saturday morning should spur the growth of grass while killing the undesirable weeds.

And then there are the taxes, one of the true joys of springtime which are due exactly one week from today! I was appalled at the amount of taxes that I pay. It feels like I'm paying more than the GNP of a small third world nation. I mean the total tax bite--including federal, OASDI and Medicare plus my ransom to Maryland, one of the most heavily taxed states in the Union. The great lie of tax season is the refund scam where the government keeps more money than they are entitled to and I say thank you when they give some of it back making the hidden tax bill somehow more palatable.

Maybe yesterday's gray skies and rain just made me more grumpy as I completed my taxes and was wishing for a better way, like a flat tax.

One of the final signs of springtime is the completion of March Madness and the crowning of the nation men's basketball champion which happened last evening and saw the string of upsets continue to complete the upsetting tournament. Congrats to Connecticut, I never guessed they thad a chance. I had them going out in the second round.

It surely is Spring. Let's play some baseball now that the weather is warmer. I even see 70's in my local seven-day forecast.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD