Spring!

Unbelievable. 60 degrees with blue skies this sun drenched morning. I do believe spring is trying to arrive. I noticed little pointy green stalks poking their noses above ground. The melting snow is collecting in the frozen drainage ditches in little ponds and lakes, and flocks of happy ducks are swimming about as if it were not the middle of February. This morning as I stepped out of our apartment building, I distinctly heard a whip-or-will calling its mate over an cheerful birdsong symphony.

I'm used to January thaws, but they seldom warm up to 60. Usually we just get to step out of the single digits for a few days. Sap in the maples rises, children play in the snow without risking frostbite, skies are not so gray. February thaws however bring flooding and premature hope for a short winter. Students are running around in shorts and flip flops as if summer had already arrived!

Worst of all, it adds fuel to the raging global warming debate. During the constant days of snow and extreme cold, one of our students was actually scoffing at the very idea. Now with such an early warmth, he is not so sure.

Either way, I am soaking in the sun all I can while it lasts. I am pretty sure winter will not release its grip quite yet.