THE ARRIVAL OF MARCH

           We have just passed Leap Day, the quadrennial milestone day of February the 29th, which leads us into the third month of the year, March. I hope the folks celebrating their Leap Year birthday on the 29^th of February enjoyed the one day that they get every four years to actually celebrate on the real date that they were born.

            I would easily take the 2016 Saskatchewan version of February as it was one of the warmest Februarys that I can ever remember. I seem to recall flight personnel trying to pry my hands off of the doorway of the plane after we landed in -50C temperatures in Regina on the return flight from the +38C degree weather of Cancun, Mexico, a couple of years ago. My, isn’t it funny how our winter weather can change from year to year.

            March is one of seven months that are 31 days long. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March. The March equinox is on the 20^th of the month and it marks the astronomical beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

            March is an event filled month with spring’s launch, Saint Patrick’s Day and Easter all being celebrated this month. Don’t forget that on March the 13^th there will be the return of Daylight Savings Time in every jurisdiction of the country, save Saskatchewan, which is on “permanent DST”, blah, blah, blah.

            Spring is indeed on the way as I am noticing a significant increase in the lightening of the sky on the morning drive to work; ditto during the early evening walks. Although we are entering the month with the weather more than a little lamb-like every long-range forecast that I have looked at shows that it won’t be too Lionish at the end of the month either, making it a good three month start to the new year. Weather-wise that is.

            Major League Baseball’s Spring Training has begun marking another sure-fire sign that we are quickly leaving winter behind. I haven’t started shining up the golf clubs, yet, but I’m itching to get the old clubs into the new Christmas gift golf bag I received from my wife this Christmas.

             If the above dates and events weren’t enough to get you geared up for March you’ll be happy to know that March is also National Nutrition Month, Red Cross Month, Women’s History Month, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Umbrella Month, Noodle Month, Mirth Month, Poetry Month and, of course, Humourists Are Artists Month, (I was unaware that there may have been some confusion with that one!?)

            Don’t forget that March 3^rd is If Animals had Thumbs Day (?!), March 8^th is International Women’s Day, the 10^th is both Employee Day and Money Day, (hint, hint Employers), March 14^th is Pi Day, the 15^th is, of course, The Ides Of March and just in case we haven’t covered all of the bases the 26^th of March is Make Your Own Holiday Day!

            So we’ve got a lot to celebrate during the 2016 version of March, if you needed an excuse. Every day should be cause for celebration, if you ask me, but if extra incentive needs to be used then who am I to argue. Make the best of whatever life throws your way this month and enjoy your March everyone.

“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it summer in the light and winter in the shade.”- Charles Dickens (1812-1860).