Spring at Last

Tulips in my sister's garden

When I was packing my bag for Stratford on Tuesday evening, I found my selections a little heavy on winter wear. Fortunately, I remembered that this region of southern Ontario is always warmer than home, even this year when winter stretched on forever. I decided that I didn't need a sweatshirt or winter gloves.

I have often been here in May, and my first impression was that the leaves are a little more advanced, but nowhere close to where you'd expect them to be in mid-May. And then I saw my sister Marilyn's beautiful spring gardens! Her tulips have reached their prime and they're stunningly beautiful. The weather feels much as I imagine Holland at this time of year.

Our Minnesota spring can't be too far behind, even though the thermometer is still flirting with near freezing temperatures. My spring Facebook album has lots of photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10203085851483591.1073741848.1125181306&type=1&l=a325b326c6

MSP vs. YYZ

I've been flying the Twin Cities - Toronto route for many years and I've always enjoyed flying into the beautiful Toronto metropolitan area.

In recent years, I've noticed that MSP has really improved its appearance and functionality. The airport is bright, clean, well laid out and efficient. This morning, my flight left from the B terminal, a long way from the ticketing area but made easy by a series of moving sidewalks and a modern tram. I was impressed with our airport's use of  limited space in a high traffic environment.

My arrival at YYZ was unwelcoming and dreary. The walk to Customs is long and the escalator wasn't working. I had trouble finding my bag because the monitors with baggage information weren't easily visible and I got incomprehensible answers from the two airport staff I asked for directions.

If I were a first-time visitor to Toronto, I wouldn't be too interested in seeing more of this beautiful city.

A Wild Dream

I hadn't watched playoff hockey for many years until the Minnesota Wild surprised fans with a powerful appearance in post-season play.

I was hooked when the Wild lost a first game heartbreaker in OT, and I didn't get much sleep on hockey nights until Minnesota went all the way to Game 7 and clinched the series in Denver. I dared to hope that the Wild could win the subsequent series against Chicago.

Minnesota played impressive hockey but finally succumbed to Patrick Kane and the Hawks in last night's Game 6 overtime loss at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. The outcome was deflating and very disappointing for Minnesota fans.

However, I think we'll see a revitalized and more experienced team next fall. I'm daring to hope for a great 2014-15 season in the state of hockey.