April—The Opening to Spring and a New Season

By Joe Bullick

Hi.  I hope you had a great March and Easter. We won’t have an Easter fall so early in the year again for quite some time.  I also hope you remembered to “spring ahead” with your clocks. 

Now we arrive at April.  No one knows for certain how April received its name.  But many believe it came from the Latin word aperire, which means “to open.”  This is an appropriate name for this month as it is the month when buds begin to open and we can begin to open our windows.  Even the opening of the month is special—it begins with April Fool’s Day.  April can be a temperamental weather month.  Some old weather folklore says this about this month:  April showers bring May flowers and When April Blows its horn, ‘tis good for hay and corn.  The first Sunday in April is called daffodil Sunday and this month boasts the diamond as its birthstone.  Its flower is the sweet pea.

When I think of April, a different type of diamond comes to mind—a baseball diamond.  Opening day for baseball season occurs in April.  For die-hard fans, this event is the “official” start to spring.  Opening day has been a political arena for U.S. presidents to show their “stuff” on the mound.  In 1910, President William Taft attended the home opener in Washington, D.C., and since then, 11 sitting presidents have tossed out the ceremonial first pitch at the opener. 

As a boy, I played hooky several times to go to the first game of the season.  On opening day in 1940, Cleveland’s Ace Bob Feller tossed a no-hitter, the only opening day one in history.  Regardless, of the game’s outcome, opening day still remains as the number one day in the hearts and minds of baseball fans.  They can’t wait to hear those two magic words—Play Ball!  So as I leave you, have a great start of springs and to my older friends, remember that age is no barrier to dreams and goals.  Helen Thayer said: Once people start thinking they’re over the hill, they are. 

God bless to all.

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Joe welcomes any ideas, suggestions or interesting stories.
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