Seasons

Packing. It is now a word that I've come to dislike. It seems like I've been packing for days, yet my apartment still looks completely lived in... I've just gained a few impossibly dense bags.
It's weird to think that I'll be in Canada in 3 more sleeps; it feels like I'm going to be where I am right now for forever. But no matter what it feels like I've still spent the last two weeks saying goodbye. I hate long goodbyes, and this is like a goodbye marathon. I think one thing that helps my coming home feel real though, is the way my thoughts about people have suddenly yet naturally slipped tenses - from present to past. Even though it's hard to say goodbye, it actually feels like it's time to go, time to come back home.
I got a sneak preview of home today. I went with a couple of friends to see the cherry blossoms. This place is different than all the other famous places I've been to in the past 4 days for hanami (flower viewing) - it's a long long road lined by canola and cherry trees. The stark contrast from the yellow ground to pink trees is quite amazing. As we were driving I rolled my window down and it smelled just like what I remember Saskatchewan smelling like.
These past few weeks really have been a changing of seasons, not just externally but internally as well. And I've come to realize, from inside and out, is that the freshness of spring and summer is what makes the cold winter season bearable, and even almost beautiful.