another sure sign of spring

I posted on April 16th that, although spring had been tardy this year, at least the snakes are re-emerging. The season of rebirth is still underperforming here, but Thursday the farm saw the return of another harbinger: geology students.

Shortly after we moved here, I spotted some folks at the abandoned mine close to the house. They were from the earth science department of Vancouver Island University, a school in nearby Nanaimo, birthplace of the inimitable Diana Krall. Our island is a treasure trove of topographical delights: caves, karsts, sinkholes and such. I invited them down for tea and we’ve seen them every spring since. They camped in our yard one summer.

Over the years we’ve developed the custom of ending each visit with some sort of convivial event. It has evolved from a meal on our back deck to a beer bust on our beach by the brook. I love the contact, learning their hopes, fears and ambitions. If they are typical of their generation, we’ll be fine.