if you are a minnesotan, it is normal to be dreaming of lush green islands at this time of year. and if you are lucky, you have already booked your travel. we don’t do spring break in this household. this is our busy season, our income earning months, that allow us free time and flexibility the rest of the year. so even though this is moss scraped from frozen earth near a cattail bed rattling in a winter wind, i’m choosing to look at it as a patch of humid jungle somewhere about 2500 miles south of our current position on the 45th parallel.

trailside moss revealed by melting snow

rice creek regional trail, saint paul, minnesota