IMHO-59
April 4th, 2011

I was trying to hold it off for as long as possible but this frustration has just got to come out. WHEN WILL IT END!? Winter that is. I know, I know, technically Spring started on the 20th of March but our human calendar doesn’t mean much when Old Man Winter is stubbornly clinging to life, does it?
So enough already! What have we done, or not done, to deserve this miserable weather? Wait. Don’t answer that last question. Whether it’s “we” as in “individuals”, or “we” as in “humankind”, the implications could be far too complex.
Anyway, I was pretty sure that March came in more lambish than lionish but it’s a moot point now isn’t it? One thing’s for sure…I don’t think any fair weather lover is going to miss March 2011’s passing now will they? What a miserable month that was.
In a way, I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with Spring. I love that Winter ends, and eventually it will, but I hate the messy, sloppy, muddy part between the end of Winter ‘til the time when the grass is all in and the tree leaves are out and there’s a lot more warmth in the Sun. At this time of year you’re never sure what coat or shoes to wear, resulting in an overabundance of clutter in the entranceway to the house, and then there’s the constant danger of ending up on your keister should you slip on the ever-present ice whenever you do have to leave the house. And Lord help you if you are a commuter or you had to do a lot of driving this past, present and persistent Winter on the worse than normal Winter highways and byways of Saskatchewan. It was unusually scary out there this year wasn’t it?
I guess there are always positives to any given situation. Like if you owned a carwash or a tow-truck or you’re a carpet cleaner or a rubber boot salesperson, or something, you probably wouldn’t mind this yucky time of year at all.
Of course there are those who will relish the elongated winter and don’t mind the fresh snowfalls in April and everything, you know the ones who can log on a few more hundred kilometers on the old snowmobile or get a couple more runs down the ski slopes. I’m so happy for you Winter lovers and all, but if it were left up to me, I’d rather be riding a lawn mower, if you know what I mean?
So if you’re as frustrated with this type of weather as much as I am, and you’re still struggling with the Winter Blues, too, then don’t look up the long range forecast. I’m serious. Don’t do it. Then again, they might be completely wrong. But why take the chance? My thoughts are that you would be best served if you invested your time in looking up some affordable travel plans to more temperate climates. It’s just a suggestion, and like I said, the weather forecasters could be completely wrong.
“Winter lies too long in country towns; hangs on until it is stale and shabby, old and sullen.”-Willa Cather (1873-1947).
Writer’s note: comments and questions regarding this column may be addressed to hubbar@sasktel.net. Also, previous “In My Humble Opinion” and “Random Thoughts” columns can be found on the following website: http://pnhubbard.blogspot.com/.