April is not my month, never has been. For some reason, however, I always forget what bad luck April seems to bring. All I can do is think about the sun on my face, the trees in bloom, the longer and longer days, the coming of summer. I plan visits to the beach and a good vacation. I put my winter coats away, vowing to not wear them again until the cold returns in the fall, not caring if this means I am a little chilly here and there. I always approach April with so much optimism and am so shocked when April, once again, fails me. What is it with April?
April was the month, three years ago, when I had my heart broken. Rather than being out enjoying the beautiful weather, running around the park, eating outside, I spent days crying on my bathroom floor. I remember walking outside the day after it happened, the day when I felt like the floor was ripped out from under my feet, and being angry at April. Being angry at the perfect weather. I felt resentment towards the warm breeze and the beautiful flowers. How can they all be so pretty, so alive, when I felt so miserable? How can the world just, continue?
April is also the month of horrible (domestic) things, most recently the Boston Marathon bombing. But there’s also the Virgina Tech Massacre, Waco, the Oklahoma City Bombing. Something about April, I don’t know. Maybe all the energy people had stored up over the winter, maybe all the anger, just comes barreling out at this first sign of Spring and optimism. Maybe all the time spent cooped up indoors was spent planning out evil rather than dreaming about warmer days. Maybe it’s a resentment towards the happiness of others. Who knows. But there is something about April.
This April for me has been tough. It always seems to be. It’s been topsy-turvy and unpredictable. But it has also been great. I had my best blog day ever, albeit a blog written about an event I wish never happened, a blog I wish I never had to write. I participated in a conference at school and, at the risk of sounding self-impressed, I killed it. I started making some serious progress in my thesis and have started to believe I might actually be able to finish this thing. I discovered that OB has started selling the Ultras again, which basically improves my life exponentially. Bought two boxes yesterday.
So, April, I am glad you are almost over, I’m not going to lie. But this year, I think I will remember you for the good you brought rather than the bad and maybe that change in outlook towards you will change your treatment towards me. I will approach you with optimism, tempered with trepidation. I won’t forget the bad, like I sometimes do, but I will choose to cast it aside. We’ll see how this works. Guess we’ll have to wait until next year to find out.
franklyrebekah 
I too, had a major break-up in an April. I think it’s the spring fever…everyone is looking forward to warm, sunny days after being cooped up all winter, only to feel disappointed when most of the month ends up chilly and rainy. But I do agree that this year (despite the few chilly days) has felt better than usual. Change is in the air; and with that change comes the prospect of a better future. Also, recently when I was riding my bike in downtown Manhattan on a sunny day, a fellow biker turned to me at a stoplight and exclaimed “I feel like I’ve been in a prison for months!” He was so happy to be enjoying the spring weather that it kind of made me happier too. So, here’s to feeling free!
I share both of your sentiments (Rebekah and Marissa).