Soon, come soon.

There's these small structures in Riverside Park I see sometimes on my bike rides. They're made of heavy, long branches stacked together - usually in cones, sometimes in domes, a few times against trees for greater structural integrity. They don't provide much shelter. They're built for the joy of having built something.

Today I was lucky enough to see some kids putting one together. A whole bunch of them, all talking, setting it up against a large rock that made a little outcropping, a very sophisticated use of the landscape. A couple were gathering up leaves to use as covering and roofing materials.

It was nice to see people engaging in the raw spirit of activity.

It was also nice to see the end of winter, in its own way. I love the season, what it does and what it brings - even when my feet and hands get cold, it's the way it's supposed to be. The only snow left, really, are the giant mounds piled up in corners and on the edges of fields. They're getting smaller each day, and it's engaging to see it happening. Other seasons tend to come in by surprise. But winter, you know when it's hit - I remember one time I swung my legs out of bed and immediately thought, "Summer's over" - and at least here, it's something I can watch go.