No wonder there’s snow on-the-ground that seems to have been here long enough to be graduating high school by now!
I’ve had a lot of time to think about our weather lately. The most obvious feature has been the storms. Unfortunately there’s a lot more than that! It has been cold, really cold, since winter officially began.
We haven’t seen 40° since January 18¹. Before that there was a three day stretch of 40°+ temps from December 31 through January 2. Since December 14 those are the only four days above 40°!
No wonder there’s snow on-the-ground that seems to have been here long enough to be graduating high school by now!
Yesterday’s maximum temperature at Bradley was a full 15° below average. Is anyone surprised?
We’re pummeled. We’re softened. We’re depressed. We’re surly. We’re actually considering the purchase of a roof rake (a tool I didn’t know existed until now). We’re all watching the Cymbalta commercials with greater interest.
I’m no psychologist, but when I read stuff like this…
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression or winter blues, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter,
I want to raise my hand and shout, “Guilty, your honor.”
According to Amy Rolph at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
Punxsutawney Phil delighted onlookers Wednesday morning when he failed to see his own shadow. Not surprising, considering the winter weather that’s bearing down on Pennsylvania right now.
But according to tradition, that means we’re in for an early spring.
I so want to buy into Phil’s forecast even if it means I have to embrace Bill Murray’s appraisal from Groundhog Day… even if it means my chosen profession can be done by a five to ten pound rodent.
“This is one time where television really fails to capture the true excitement of a large squirrel predicting the weather.” – Bill Murray in Groundhog Day
Whatever it takes I’m done with winter. Mother Nature this is a dysfunctional relationship we’re in. I’m not sure counseling will help. Pack up your things before I pack up mine.
¹ – Based on readings at New Haven. Your actual mileage may vary.
I write a small column (a columnette?) every day in the Hartford Courant. It appears on Page 2 with the weather maps. It’s just 75 words, which is the challenge. It’s tough to have a beginning, middle and end in that tiny a space.