frozen in february

If there's one thing you learn living in a cold state, it's how not to set yourself up for disappointment. Nevertheless, we do it all the time. I know that we here in Michigan tend to get secretly hopeful for spring around the end of February, although we squelch it with our sure knowledge that yep, it will still be snowing in April. Every year I think back to previous Marches, trying to remember if it got warm at all. That one spring break - the snow was melting, you could smell the ground. That other one, oh yeah, that's when we had the blizzard. And yes, one year we did bust out the grill on a balmy 50 degree St. Patrick's day, only to wheel it in to the garage soon after to avoid the 8 inches of snow that came the next day.

So, it's not a surprise to me when I think I can detect a tantalizing scent of freshness in the cold wind, and then immediately blame it on my imagination. Or when I think I'm hearing more birds then usual, but then ask myself if I've just been ignoring them all winter. I just thank God that February only has 28 days, or else I'd drive myself nuts with second guessing. Spring is coming, it really is... just not for at least a month yet. It's really not.