Advisory Board: Spring is finally here and the end of the year is in sight
by david holmquist
At 31 days, March is tied for the longest month of the year.
With its continued cold and snow, it also seemed like the longest month of the year.
My late father used to say, “Ugh. March.”
For people with seasonal depression, March is miserable as winter retains its icy grip.
The long weeks, rush to end third quarter and stresses of projects give the feeling that the school year is never going to end tend.
Usually, April offers hope. April--“well heeled” and “sweet” as poets have called it--provides a glimpse of the warmth and possibilities that May and summer hold.
Clocks turn ahead an hour, extending daylight. The snow melts; grass greens; birds sing. Baseball season starts. Days of temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s return.
But not this year.
The cold and snow of April were like a bad sequel to March.
April this year has meant the continued grip of this long, cold winter.
On Monday, April 9, I woke up to snow. Snow! It’s spring sports season and teams are practicing outside, and they have to deal with 30 degrees and snow.
I planned to attend a Minnesota Twins game on Saturday, April 14, and the game was postponed due to a blizzard.
On Wednesday, April 18, schools across the area were dismissed early to stay ahead of the freezing rain and snow that blanketed our region later that night.
Some will say sarcastically, “How’s that for global warming?” What these ignorant commenters don’t get is that these crazy temperatures are related to weather, not climate. But that is another issue entirely and which our own Aidan Eno has so eloquently discussed in a prior column.
But now, at the end of April, the tide has turned. Winter is a distant memory. We have had a ten-day streak of days in the 50’s and 60’s and even a few days in the 70’s.
May is just around the corner. Senior skip day on April 20 was one of the nicest days of year so far.
We can feel the warmth of spring, and it feels good.
The promise of May and the end of school should give everyone a lift and put smiles on their faces.
The sports teams are back at it. On Tuesday, April 24, the track team defeated Madison East at Monterey and the baseball team beat Parker during a beautiful spring night.
On Friday, April 27, we held the annual Honor Wall ceremony to honor alumni for their service and success, an event that, like April’s warm days, gives everyone hope that better days lie ahead.
I encourage everyone take some time to attend games and matches.
While not as well publicized as fall and winter sports, our spring sports are top performing.
Baseball is ranked #1, softball #10, girls soccer took the third ranked team in the state to the wire. Track has some sure state qualifiers.
Best of all, the sun and warmth are back.
Happy spring, everyone!
With its continued cold and snow, it also seemed like the longest month of the year.
My late father used to say, “Ugh. March.”
For people with seasonal depression, March is miserable as winter retains its icy grip.
The long weeks, rush to end third quarter and stresses of projects give the feeling that the school year is never going to end tend.
Usually, April offers hope. April--“well heeled” and “sweet” as poets have called it--provides a glimpse of the warmth and possibilities that May and summer hold.
Clocks turn ahead an hour, extending daylight. The snow melts; grass greens; birds sing. Baseball season starts. Days of temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s return.
But not this year.
The cold and snow of April were like a bad sequel to March.
April this year has meant the continued grip of this long, cold winter.
On Monday, April 9, I woke up to snow. Snow! It’s spring sports season and teams are practicing outside, and they have to deal with 30 degrees and snow.
I planned to attend a Minnesota Twins game on Saturday, April 14, and the game was postponed due to a blizzard.
On Wednesday, April 18, schools across the area were dismissed early to stay ahead of the freezing rain and snow that blanketed our region later that night.
Some will say sarcastically, “How’s that for global warming?” What these ignorant commenters don’t get is that these crazy temperatures are related to weather, not climate. But that is another issue entirely and which our own Aidan Eno has so eloquently discussed in a prior column.
But now, at the end of April, the tide has turned. Winter is a distant memory. We have had a ten-day streak of days in the 50’s and 60’s and even a few days in the 70’s.
May is just around the corner. Senior skip day on April 20 was one of the nicest days of year so far.
We can feel the warmth of spring, and it feels good.
The promise of May and the end of school should give everyone a lift and put smiles on their faces.
The sports teams are back at it. On Tuesday, April 24, the track team defeated Madison East at Monterey and the baseball team beat Parker during a beautiful spring night.
On Friday, April 27, we held the annual Honor Wall ceremony to honor alumni for their service and success, an event that, like April’s warm days, gives everyone hope that better days lie ahead.
I encourage everyone take some time to attend games and matches.
While not as well publicized as fall and winter sports, our spring sports are top performing.
Baseball is ranked #1, softball #10, girls soccer took the third ranked team in the state to the wire. Track has some sure state qualifiers.
Best of all, the sun and warmth are back.
Happy spring, everyone!