One of the first signs of spring for me is the appearance of pussy willows on a particular tree along my walk around the neighborhood; running a close second are the crocuses in our backyard. Pussy willows don’t live in solitude; they need each other to be recognized; they need each other for playmates. Crocuses, on the other hand, are solitary types, even when in clusters. Pussy willows remind me of my youth, crocuses of the present.