Spring has arrived here in the Oberpfalz. Growing up in southern California, I never knew seasons. But after a long winter here in northern Bavaria, the first leaves of spring are nothing less than magic. And by now the forests are nearly completely green, as if the winter had never existed in the first place. The days are once again long and warm; the sun rising early and staying up late. The storks are back on their chimney and song birds wake me up all too early in the morning if I forget to close the window at night. The street-side cafe’s have once again set up their chairs outside and one looks for a shady place to sit to escape the hot midday sun. These last days make the cold of winter easily forgotten. Life has returned.