When
Punxsutawny Phil, famous groundhog and prognosticator of winter weather,
declared that he had seen his shadow and we would have eight more weeks of
cold, wet, snowiness, I sighed. I am sure I was not alone - anyone ready for
some spring sunshine? Even though it was muddy and windy last weekend I took my
bike, (the pedal kind,) to one of our local trails and rode twelve miles until
my legs were numb. When I got home I looked at the five-day forecast and, sure
enough, there was snow predicted for this week. UGH! I’m over it! One day its
freezing cold and the next it’s unseasonably warm and the tornado sirens are
going off.
I’m
ready to get out the potting soil and start cleaning up my garden ready for
some spring planting. I’m ready for the farmer’s markets to start back up with
spring vegetables for sale. I’m ready to wear a green t-shirt on St. Patrick’s
Day, not a green down coat! The trees and plants are confused; I see buds on my
dogwoods but I’m afraid they will get frozen before the last days of winter
leave us. I know I’m going on about the weather, but it seems to be part of
everyone’s conversation this year. Don’t get me wrong, I love the seasonal changes
and enjoy the cold weather for a few months. But this year it feels as if it
started early and has gone on too long. I want winter to be over!
There
was an interesting discussion on global warming on one of the Sunday talk shows
recently. The expert pointed out that global warming doesn't mean that the
weather will just get hotter. He said that it really meant weather extremes would
increase and become more commonplace: The cold of winter would be more severe
and the heat of summer more intense. So, perhaps this year’s weather is
indicative of our current weather pattern? It’s not just here in southern Illinois
that the weather has been severe. Droughts in California and floods in the United
Kingdom are just some of the examples. Unseasonably warm weather at the winter Olympics
and records snow falls in parts of the Midwest and the east coast. When spring
does get here I plan to enjoy it to the fullest as I have a sneaky feeling
summer will be upon us before we are ready for it.
Maybe
the best thing we can do is just start acting as if its spring - time to step
into the local boutique and check out this year’s spring sandals and Easter
dresses. Maybe I'll get a pedicure and new hair color to shake off the winter blues!
Or perhaps it’s time to forget the chili and make a big fresh salad instead. Because
whether we have spring weather or not, spring events and activities are
starting up all around us. Time to sign up for softball and plan spring break
trips to the beach! Definitely time to shave my legs!
