The World According to Angela

This winter has been long.  It's been the snowiest winter in 52 years, meaning it's been the snowiest winter of my existence.  I am not feeling as much spring fever as I normally would at this point, but that is because I spent a pretty sizable part of it in warmer climates.  However, like everyone else, I am ready for spring.  Not ready for the severe storms and tornado threats, but ready for that fresh air.  Ready to watch life renew itself...new plants, flowers, baby animals. 

Those who live in warmer climates year round cannot begin to understand the amazing transformation that arrives along with spring.  Unless you live through the cold and snowy time, you do not have the same excitement and appreciation for those first glorious warm days.  Unless you have to add 15 minutes onto your kids' morning routine to get them sufficiently bundled up (and to find the damn gloves that always seem to get lost), you cannot appreciate how easy it is to leave with just a light jacket.  Unless you have been immersed in the peaceful silence of a snow covered world, you wouldn't take notice of the birds singing or the crickets chirping.  Until you've gotten used to guarding yourself from the bitter sting of the wind, you cannot taste the miracle of the welcoming spring breeze.  Until your house has been filled with recycled heated air, you cannot imagine the simple joy of open windows.

We are right there.  The temperatures are slowly creeping up.  The days are longer and more sunny.  The anticipation is building.  Winter cannot last forever, and spring will indeed arrive.  Everyone's moods will magically brighten, and laughter will come so much easier.  Bikes will be cleaned and aired up.  Baseballs and mitts will make their debut from bottoms of closets.  Swings will soar through the air once more.  Hot chocolate will be replaced by lemonade.  Wrigley Field will open its doors.

It's always worth the wait.  And this year, it will be extra fabulous...we truly earned it!