Did you ever wonder how the month of March got its name?

A few years back I was interviewing a farmer. He pointed to a long line of cows lumbering through the oozy muck in his pasture on their way to the barn for the evening milking session.

“March is like them cows,” he nodded toward the barn door. “They don't really want to go there – but they have to.”

Like cows, we are “marching on” through the often-fickle month of March to reach the other side of spring. March rhymes with “harsh,” which pretty well sums up this wild and windy month.

Don't get me wrong – March does have redeeming qualities.

March is the month when the expression “go fly a kite” was born. Kites aren't as popular as they once were, but for my generation March will always be associated with springy balsam sticks and colorful squares of paper.

Assembling the kites was only the first step. Then we went in search of my grandmother's ragbag, looking for suitable tail material. To be honest, our kites weren't that attractive, but we thought they were.

Those glorious moments of riding the wind, even briefly, were worth all the effort – not to mention standing on a windy hill all afternoon.

With all its brashness and bluster, March would be even less appealing were it not for the fact that it marks the official start of spring. Nevertheless, we want spring to hurry, which rhymes with another March word – “flurry.”

“Oh, no – snow!” is a lament often heard in March.

In March anything can, and often does, go.

Generally, though, most things don't go fast enough. Leafless trees and stubbled fields have definitely lost their appeal by now.

Old Man Winter needs a shave and a haircut, and we wish he would get on with it!

This end of winter malaise, sometimes known as “March madness,” might be summed up in a single word: impatience (and I don't mean those colorful little flowers that bloom later in the spring).

Yet, each day in March we are marching, albeit in baby steps, toward spring.

The sunrise of each lengthening day beams a message to the still chilly land – spring is coming!

Looking out my window on a March morning the world looks so clean and fresh that the word “rebirth” easily comes to mind. Yes, the world is getting ready for another go-round of baby birds and squirrels, kittens and puppies, crocus and cucumbers, tomatoes and too-much squash.

March nights are just as full of promise. Stars strewn across a wind-whipped sky sparkle like just-buffed jewels, and the moon does its best to warm stark winter shadows. Squinty-eyed possums prowl the shadows, as do skunks and raccoons. The night is alive with their comings and goings.

A sleepy owl calls, “Hoot, hoot – who gives a hoot?” and the answer comes back from a host of rousing creatures who feel the irresistible call of spring.

For those of us who have seen a number of seasons come and go, the purpose of March is all the more clear.

There is no easy way to get from sub-zero to sublime.

And so we have March.

Some look at March and see cows lumbering across a muddy field.

The more perceptive see the cows and know that they are heading for better things to come.

Once March arrives it's a sure thing – we won't have long to wait until the cows come home.