那些報春使者

當有一天，你不再懼怕冬日的嚴寒，脫掉厚重的外套，勇敢地走向戶外，沐浴在暖陽之中，感受微風拂面，看柳樹抽出嫩芽，聞青草發出淡淡清香……這一切的一切都在向你傳遞一個信號：春天來了！

At last， spring is upon us! Even if you're cooped1) up in a classroom， it's still fun to appreciate the springiness2) happening all around. Here are a few things to watch for as we head into the season of love， rebirth and much-needed warmth.

春天終于來了！即使你正被關在教室里，欣賞周圍那無處不在、充滿活力的變化依然是一大樂事。當我們邁進這個萬物復蘇、大地回暖的愛的季節，要留心觀察下面這些事情。

1. No jackets

This is a personal favorite of mine， especially since almost everyone in the city wears a boring black coat all winter. Suddenly， as spring arrives， the streets are filled with color and interesting outfits. Some people take the \"oh my LORD， I don't have to wear a coat!!\" a little too far， though. Watch for shivering3).

2. Spring smells

One of the first signs of summer is that freshly-cut grass smell. In spring， it's flowers. They're everywhere; florists4) are starting to stock outside displays， men and women are carrying them around and if you're lucky enough to be near some nice landscaping5)， they're starting to bloom on their own. The other telltale6) scent? Barbecue. That meat-flavored smoke wafting7) through the air means it's time to hit the deck8)—and start grilling9).

3. People walking slower

There are two reasons that people walk slower in the spring. One is that they're not freezing， obviously. The other is that due to the not freezing， people are actually enjoying being outside again. They're literally smelling the roses. Spring is a time for strolling10).

4. Birds

You'll notice that you hear more than just the usual muffled11) pigeon sounds as you walk around outside. Birds start appearing everywhere in spring， and you may even catch a couple of randy12) ones chasing after each other.

5. You drop five pounds

Sometimes， we don't even notice it happening. We crave13) lighter foods when it's warmer， so without even realizing it， you may have just gone on a diet of sorts. Not only that， but the good feelings of being outdoors will encourage you to exercise more. Five pounds may just fall right off you.

6. Your body feels better

Not only might you feel a bit lighter， but because you're not all tense from being cold， your muscles will be more relaxed all day， and then at the end of the day， too. Give yourself an extra flexibility and muscle relaxation boost by hitting a few yoga classes. Yoga feels great in the spring.

7. You get more done

The days are getting longer， and more hours of light means more hours of motivation. It's so easy to quit running errands14) when it gets dark out. Now， you can keep on with your day until 7 p.m. or so before the sun sets. Not only that， but the bright， warm light early in the morning gets you out of bed faster. This phenomenon is part of why we have \"spring cleaning\". We suddenly have time!

8. You hear music

The good feeling of sunshine on your shoulders may bring songs into your head—or it may be that your local musicians are out on the street playing again. After relying on your iPod all winter， you can finally unplug15) and listen to the music of your environment.

9. Buds are budding; sprouts are sprouting ...

Keep an eye on that dormant16) tree outside your window. In fact， consider photographing it daily to make an album of its progress—it's fun. Also， a walk through the park through budding trees and other plants will remind you that this is the season of new beginnings and bolster17) your spirits. Get out there!

10. Love is in the air

Everyone is suddenly better looking， no? Their faces aren't scrunched18) up from the cold; you can see what they're wearing; they've lost five pounds; the sad blues are receding19); our circulation is on the rise and the sunshine has our bodies manufacturing vitamin D. All these can lead to some pretty lusty20) thoughts about the people around you. Don't feel guilty; it's normal. Watch for the adorable PDAs21) as hands come out of pockets and lovers loll22) around having picnics and making lovey-dovey23) faces at each other.

1. 不用穿外套

這一點是我本人最喜歡的，尤其是在城市里幾乎每個人都穿著沉悶的黑色外套過了一整個冬天之后。忽然之間，隨著春天的到來，街上隨處可見人們穿著色彩繽紛、趣味盎然的衣服！不過，有的人把這種“天哪，我不用穿大衣了！”的感覺表達得有點過頭了。當心別凍得直哆嗦哦。

2. 春天的味道

夏天來臨的最早跡象之一是新修剪過的青草散發出的味道。而春天到來的標志則是鮮花，它們無處不在。花店開始把花放在店外展示，街上隨處可見捧花的人們。如果你剛好在某個漂亮的花壇附近，會看到鮮花在自行開放。另一種能傳達春意的味道是？燒烤的味道。當空氣中開始飄蕩這種帶著肉香的煙氣時，就意味著該準備開始行動——開始燒烤了。

3. 人們放慢了腳步

人們在春天放慢腳步有兩個原因，首先顯然是因為不冷了；其次，由于不冷了，人們其實很享受能夠再度來到戶外。他們真的可以聞到玫瑰的香氣。春天是散步的好時節。

4. 鳥兒

當你在戶外四處閑逛時，你會發現傳入耳中的不再只是平日里鴿子低低的咕噥聲。春天來了，到處都能看見鳥兒，你甚至還可能看到一對處在求偶期的鳥兒互相追逐。

5. 體重少了五磅

有時我們甚至察覺不到體重的這一變化。天氣暖和了，我們更愿意吃些清淡的食物，所以你可能不知不覺間就已經開始控制飲食了。不僅如此，置身戶外的舒暢心情也會讓你想多做運動。體重可能很快就這么減掉了五磅。

6. 身體更舒適了

你可能不僅會覺得身體輕快了一些，而且由于你不再因為寒冷而凍得渾身緊繃，你的肌肉從早到晚都會更加放松。去上幾節瑜伽課，讓自己的身體更柔韌、肌肉更放松。春天很適合練瑜伽。

7. 能做更多的事

白天變長了，日照時間延長意味著干勁也增加了。天一黑，人們就很容易不想出門去辦事。而現在，直到晚上7點鐘左右太陽下山之前，你都可以一直做事。不僅如此，早晨明亮溫暖的陽光也會讓你更快起床。這種現象是我們做“春季大掃除”的原因之一。我們一下子變得有時間了！

8. 你能聽到音樂

陽光灑在肩上的美妙感覺可能會讓你的腦海中回蕩著歌聲——不過這也可能是因為你們那兒的音樂家又到街上來演奏了。聽了一整個冬天的iPod，你終于可以摘下耳機，聆聽身邊的音樂了。

9. 發芽的發芽，抽枝的抽枝……

密切觀察你窗外那棵休眠一冬的樹。其實，可以考慮每天給它拍照，做一個相冊記錄它的變化，那會很有趣哦。另外，去公園里走走，那些正在發芽的樹和其他植物會提醒你這是邁向新開端的季節，它們會鼓舞你的士氣。去那兒走走吧！

10. 愛意盎然

大家都突然變漂亮了，不是嗎？他們的臉不再凍得皺巴巴的，你能看到他們的穿戴，他們瘦了些，憂郁的情緒正在消退。我們的血液循環改善了，身體在陽光的照射下合成維生素D。所有這些因素都會讓你對身邊的人“不懷好意”。不用覺得有罪惡感，這很正常。留意人們那些可愛的親昵舉止——他們的手不用再揣在兜里取暖了；那些情侶們也懶散地坐在一起野餐，還互相扮著可愛的鬼臉。

1.coop [ku#720;p] vt. 將……禁錮在狹小空間(up)

2.springiness [#712;spr#618;#331;in#601;s] n. 彈性；活力

3.shivering [#712;#643;#618;v#601;r#618;#331;] n. 發抖，顫抖；戰栗

4.florist [#712;fl#594;r#618;st， #712;fl#596;#720;r#618;st] n. 花商；種花者

5.landscaping [#712;laelig;nd#712;ske#618;p#618;#331;] n. 景觀美化

6.telltale [#712;telte#618;l] adj. 泄露秘密的

7.waft [w#594;ft， wɑ#720;ft] vi. (隨風)飄蕩

8.hit the deck: 準備開始行動

9.grill [ɡr#618;l] v. (在烤架等上面)烤炙

10.stroll [str#601;#650;l] vi. 散步，溜達

11.muffle [#712;m#652;fl] vt. 使(聲音)低沉(或輕微)

12.randy [#712;raelig;ndi] adj. 性欲沖動的

13.crave [kre#618;v] vt. 渴望得到；迫切需要

14.errand [#712;er#601;nd] n. (短程的)差事，差使(如送信、買東西等)

15.unplug [#716;#652;n#712;pl#652;ɡ] vt. 拔去……的電源插頭；拔去(插頭)

16.dormant [#712;d#596;#720;m#601;nt] adj. 【植】休眠期的

17.bolster [#712;b#601;#650;lst#601;(r)] vt. 支持；提高

18.scrunch [skr#652;nt#643;] vt. 揉皺；縮緊

19.recede [r#618;#712;si#720;d] vi. 退，后退；遠去

20.lusty [#712;l#652;sti] adj. 精力充沛的，生氣勃勃的

21.PDA: public display of affection，當眾表示感情

22.loll [l#594;l] vi. 懶洋洋地倚靠(或躺、坐、站)

23.lovey-dovey [#716;l#652;vi #712;d#652;vi] adj. 情意綿綿的，感傷多情的