A Scene from Bambi
By Jeff Salter
I love memories.
Memories of seasons often take me back to beautiful places and times.
Last year we visited this theme in April, a full month later. And here’s what I had to say about it:
https://fourfoxesonehound.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/images-from-spring/
But this year – in many places – the winter has faded quickly and gives most of us an early glimpse of Spring. Sure, there will likely be some cold weather still: March cannot remain in the 70s. But for now, I’m enjoying the beautiful weather.
Bambi’s first experiences
When I was a kid, I loved Walt Disney’s 1942 movie, Bambi. I’ve seen it a few times since and it holds up very well. One of the most charming scenes is when Bambi first ventures out of the thicket (in which he was born) and meets the other animals around him, like Thumper, the birds, the skunk named Flower … and many others.
Here Bambi meets Thumper:
http://movieclips.com/WGVc-bambi-movie-thats-why-they-call-me-thumper/
Here, he encounters a skunk for the first time:
http://movieclips.com/DgTQo-bambi-movie-bambi-meets-flower/
The sense of wonder and discovery and innocence … the obvious signs of new birth all around — surely this is the quintessential imagery of Spring.
Hope you enjoy the clips.
Questions:
What are some of your favorite memories of Spring?
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Playing outside, getting my feet so dirty, and hearing my mom and dad yell for me to come in when the sun went down. . .ah. . .
LikeLike
Ah … barefoot. I can’t remember the last time I was barefoot out-of-doors.
As a kid, I surely went barefoot a lot, though. Loved the feel of cool dirt on bare feet.
Hated walking on gravel and STICKERS, though!
Like you, Tonya, we kids stayed out until it was dark ..or supertime.
LikeLike
My favorite memory of spring is the first time I’m able to go outside without a coat on. It always seemed to freeing to be able to simply walk out the door without bundling up! After that I guess the colors would be my second impression. After several months of bare tree limbs and snow-covered yards, the green leaves and grass are always a welcome sight.
LikeLike
Thanks for visiting Patricia. Yes, I like those things also. Plus … the sounds of the birds (which I’m listening to right this moment). They seem so happy! Oh, I’m sure some of their vocalization is not related to contentment, but it SOUNDS happy.
LikeLike
I love Bambi. I also cry like a blubbering idiot when I watch it. But you are absolutely right, Jeff. Disney captured the essence of innocence and experiencing life through new eyes. It’s something we all can witness each spring, too, if we take the time to listen and watch the fresh, new life bursting all around us.
LikeLike
Very true, Jenn. And we can occasionally spot a fawn here on our 25 acres. I don’t think they necessarily ‘live’ on our 25 … but we adjoin a lot of woods and fields, so they may just pass through our land. But we love seeing them.
LikeLike
I love my dogwood tree right outside my back door, and the daffodils popping up. I know it’s spring when the dogwood buds open up!! LOVE MY DOGWOOD! and the daffs. 😀
LikeLike
We have several dogwoods on our 25 acres, though none bloom as beautifully as the ones we see “in-town”. Not sure why.
Thanks for visiting, Meg.
LikeLike
I love everything about Spring – bulbs breaking through the soil, shrubs and trees budding out, baby animal appearing. Experiencing the seasons here in Rhode Island has been quite interesting as we ACTUALLY have four seasons unlike Louisiana. Winter this year was such a contrast here for us compared to last year. Last year we had such a cold winter with snow staying on the ground for two months solid. Some of the tall mounds of piled up snow in the parking lots didn’t melt until the end of May. At this time last year our above ground swimming pool was still frozen solid. I didn’t take the flannel sheet off the bed until the first of June. It has been warm enough for the past few days that we haven’t needed to run any heat which will be good for our heating oil bill. Just hope that we do not have a “hotter than normal” summer.
LikeLike
Yes, Sug. This winter has been dramatically warmer — with less precip — than last year’s. Down here in S.E. KY, it’s been delightful. Wonder what NEXT winter will be like?
LikeLike
Here at the beach, I’m honestly not loving the horde of spring breakers. And yet some of my best spring memories include spring break. That first venture into a swimsuit–and searching for a warm, sunny spot sheltered by the dunes from the howling wind. So I don’t really resent their presence. I’m frustrated by the ones who leave cans and bottles and pizza boxes and chicken bones in their wake.
LikeLike
Yep, Chris. There’s no excuse for littering and ruining the beach experience for others.
Funny thing: when I was in H.S. and college, I never went on anything that could be described as ‘Spring Break’. In fact, my only awareness of that phenomena was what I viewed in the movie, “Where the Boys Are” with Connie Francis, Jim Hutton, Paula Prentiss, etc. And (back then) that was pretty wild stuff. LOL
LikeLike
Bambi! One of my most favorite movies from childhood. I laugh, I cry, I hold my breath waiting for them to escape- wow, it had everything! I think I might take this Spring afternoon and watch the movie. It would be like curling up with an old friend that has stayed with you through thick and thin.
LikeLike
It is a terrific film, Stacey. And all the more so because that splendid animation was HAND-drawn! Difficult for younger folks — familiar with Pixar and other computer-generated animation — at how exacting and labor-intensive it was to draw all those panels and film them. The Disney studios were a melting pot of artistic genius … and most of them worked without credits.
LikeLike
Longer daylight hours, Budding trees, birds singing, strawberries…. I love Spring!
LikeLike
Strawberries! [Yes, Kimberley, that reminds me that our wine berries will “come in” during the summer and I can spend the rest of spring looking forward to them.]
I used to live near the “Strawberry capital of the world” — as we thought of it then — Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana. And each year about this time, there would be an afticle featureing the very first reported crop … along with the annual worry of a new ‘freeze’ coming which might damage the plants.
LikeLike
Hi Jeff 🙂
My favorite part about Spring is when you can smell all of the new smells in the air – the flowers, freshly mowed grass, and if you live by the ocean the salt seems more pungent. It’s amazing and green and bright in the spring!
Loved your post – as always!
Anne
LikeLike
Thanks, Anne.
Where I grew up (S.E. Louisiana), we were not too far from the Gulf of Mexico. When we’d visit relatives in Biloxi, we always enjoyed the beach. But, unfortunately, the Gulf back then — at least that part of its coast — was rather dirty, littered, and terribly smelly. [They’d had decades of cannery plants right on the coast in Biloxi.] Such a different experience from the Galveston area of TX or the west side of Fla.
But I never had much time near the actual OCEANS. I’ve put my feet in both the Pacific and the Atlantic, but that’s about it. In movies, it surely looks beautiful though.
LikeLike
Considering the fact that I woke up to snow covering my yard and trees, I’m not as pleased with Spring’s entry as you are. I love snow, but I also love seasonal changes. And it’s time for it to be warming up around here!
As for favorite Spring memories, I’m not sure I can narrow it down to one event. For me, it’s the getting outdoors and the sunshine that is precious about Spring.
And I love Bambi. Still watch it with the grandkids on occasion. 🙂
LikeLike
Yikes. Snow, Laurie? I knew there were pockets of cold weather conditions around the country, but here in KY things have been totally out of season. This is the most moderate March I’ve experienced (out of the six I’ve been here) … and most of the long-timer residents tell me it’s warmer than they can remember. Wonder if we’ll get hit by another ‘snap’ of cold.
LikeLike
There’s a lot I love, but my favorite thing about spring is that first warm day where the scent of cut grass is heavy and the sun is deliciously hot on my skin after a long, cold winter. It’s utter bliss.
LikeLike
Beautifully phrased, Sarah … & quite succinct.
“Deliciously hot.”
LikeLike
I love that movie! I need to watch it with Jude. Walks in the park are the best part about spring.
LikeLike
Walks are terrific, Liz. I used to also enjoy bike-riding … the real bikes — outdoors. Not in front of a TV at the ‘Y’.
thanks for visiting today.
LikeLike
Yes, real bikes are great too!
LikeLike
Loved Bambi! We actually watched it again not too long ago. It never gets old. 🙂 Spring is my favorite time of the year. 🙂 The weather is almost perfect. Not too hot and not too cold. All the wildflowers and trees starting to bloom reminds me that each day is a new beginning. Let’s see…best memories. Hubby asked me to marry him 22 years ago in the spring and my only son was born in the spring. Lots of other great things too, but I won’t bore you. LOL
LikeLike
We saw many beautiful trees and bushes blooming today as we drove through part of town. I love Spring. Thank goodness I don’t have seasonal allergies, however. I understand the folks with pollen allergies are already suffering.
Thanks for visiting again, Melissa.
LikeLike
I love spring, but then again, I love all the seasons! The memory, though, that springs (no pun intended!) to mind about spring was when I was still living in Germany and once the weather was warmer and the days longer people came out of their houses and spend more time outside and you were able to “catch up on the streets”. I loved it! Here in Australia I love the few seasonal trees we have here start blooming, and the garden starting to turn on wonderful colours!
I love Bambi …. cried as well …. I love a lot of Disney movies and I’m a bit sad when my girls now tell me they’re too old for these movies. That doesn’t stop me to still put them on though when I have to get through a big load of ironing 🙂
Great post, Jeff ! Though Autumn has started here …..
LikeLike
You’ve already got autumn ‘down under’?
Gosh, that has to be confusing as you interact with folks in north America.
Thanks for visiting again, Iris.
LikeLike
Even trickier when I try to get hold of someone in my family at “home” 😉
LikeLike
I can only imagine.
LikeLike
Pingback: Spring, Sprang, Sprung | fourfoxesonehound