Still Winter, Almost Spring: Living in the In-Between (Image Credit: By: Merle Lee Ann Pratt – Merle Lee Ann’s Kitchen, author of “A Baker’s Dozen”)

By By: Merle Lee Ann Pratt – Merle Lee Ann’s Kitchen, author of “A Baker’s Dozen”

Seniors Scene

Still Winter, Almost Spring: Living in the In-Between

Mar 26, 2026 | 9:40 AM

March has a way of keeping us guessing. And this year is absolutely no exception.

One day, the sun lingers a little longer, the snow begins to soften, and we allow ourselves to believe that winter might finally be losing its grip. The next day, the wind reminds us who’s still in charge; Mother Nature, the temperature drops, and we’re back to boots, gloves, and heavy coats. It’s still winter… but it’s also almost spring. In like a lion – out like a lamb, not yet that’s for sure.

On this past Sunday we were outside romping in the snow with our grandson, who just loves to be outside. And so much like his grandma – he loves to shovel snow. Gets a little frustrated when the load gets too heavy for him to push. Working together we can remove snow and have fun at the same time. And of course he must take a little time to roll in it, go up a snowdrift and be very high – scary!

This is the season of the in-between. And this year more than ever has it been, just when we think we are out of it we are back into another snowstorm. And as I am writing this blog we are in a snowstorm. I am storm stayed. No getting out of this yard today.

Outside, the snowbanks are shrinking, streets are wet and muddy, and there’s that unmistakable scent in the air that signals change. We feel it before we see it. Spring is close — just not close enough yet. Nature is moving forward, but on its own schedule. Living in the country makes the side roads especially challenging. Between freezing rain, melting, and snow again, we have very large ruts in the road, making driving a major test each and every day.

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In the morning the roads are frozen; by mid-afternoon they are soft and muddy. And I do not want to get stuck in the mud! A true nightmare for me. Have you ever been stuck in the mud? I have with my feet, but not with a car. I would much rather get stuck in snow than mud. Fact!

Life often feels the same way.

So many moments are spent in that uncomfortable middle space — no longer where we were, but not yet where we want to be. Waiting for answers. Waiting for healing. Waiting for clarity. Waiting for things to move when they seem stuck in place.

The in-between can be frustrating. We’re ready to move forward, yet something holds us back. We’re tired of waiting, tired of putting plans on pause, tired of dressing for winter when our hearts are already longing for spring. We want progress, even when patience is what’s required. Momentum, not mud.

But March reminds us that transition serves a purpose.

Beneath the frozen ground, change is already happening. Roots are strengthening. Seeds are preparing. The earth is quietly waking up, even if it doesn’t look like much from the surface. Growth doesn’t arrive all at once — and it rarely announces itself.

Maybe the in-between isn’t wasted time.

Maybe it’s a season meant for reflection. A time to slow down just enough to notice what’s shifting beneath us. Winter teaches lessons we might miss if we rush too quickly into what’s next. Patience, after all, isn’t passive — it’s part of the process.

Living in the in-between builds resilience. It asks us to be flexible, to adjust expectations, and to trust that forward movement doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes progress looks like small steps. Sometimes it looks like standing still and learning to be okay there for a moment.

Late March doesn’t promise instant warmth or blooming flowers. What it offers instead is possibility. And sometimes, that’s enough.

So, if you’re feeling restless right now — eager for change but still surrounded by reminders of winter — you’re not alone. This season understands that feeling well. Still winter. Almost spring. Living somewhere in the middle.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly where we’re meant to be for now.

Now for a song. I found myself thinking about Tim McGraw – Humble and Kind. It isn’t a song about rushing ahead or having everything figured out. It’s about how we move through life — especially when things feel uncertain or unfinished. The reminders to be patient, stay grounded, and treat others gently seem especially fitting during times like this. When life feels like late March — caught between what was and what’s coming — humility and kindness become steady companions. They help us wait well, even when the road ahead is still muddy.

This column is sponsored by MacKenzie Funeral Chapel and Crematorium – We will be there when you need us.

130 9th St. E, Prince Albert, SK

Phone: (306) 763-8488 – https://mackenziechapel.ca