Spring is in the air

Anytime that a winter lasts as long as this one has I get antsy to see different signs of spring. I must have said on numerous occasions recently, “That was a sure sign of spring!”

Of course on a few of those occasions it got cold and snowed but what the heck it was still a sing of spring.

When the snow is melting at a reasonable rate it was a good sign that spring was heading our direction. But then it rained a bunch and raised havoc with roads in our area leading to a bunch of closures.

I’m old enough to tell you that this wasn’t the worst winter I’ve been through just one that we’ll remember for a long time.

It should give you the opportunity in later years to say to your kids or grandkids, “You think this winter was tough, let me tell you about the winter of ’17!”

For your sake I hope it will never get old.

I remember a time when kids would go out and find that first buttercup in the field or the flowerbed. My wife has been searching for the bad weeds that have little burs that break off and get into our little dog’s paw. Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend!

There was a time when the farmers would shake up their neighbors and be the first to till the fields in early March but now the first sign of spring for farmers is usually with a sprayer. Farming methods have changed and for the better. I’m not a big fan of watching the dust blow.

I used to think that a real sign of spring was when people started wearing shorts on a daily basis after all it is getting a lot warmer. That isn’t the case anymore.

It doesn’t matter how cold it is some folks just don’t like to wear long pants. I don’t trust the weather and I want to make sure if I need to walk a mile or so for help I’m somewhat prepared to get there without any frozen digits.

When I was in Spokane for the tournament about three weeks ago I saw several motorcycles out and about and to me that was a sure sign of spring but as bad as the roads are with all of the potholes I hope those folks have a good idea where the good roads are and not travel on the beat up ones.

If a car can get lost in one of those potholes a motorcycle…well it could be really bad news for the riders.

A few other people bring out their vintage cars to show off. With the weather as strange as it has been though it seems the rainy weather has delayed some of the really classic ones from seeing the light of day. I’m sure that will change by April.

Basketball in March is truly a sign of spring with the high school and NCAA tournaments filling up air time on the TV sets. Of course the big snow storm that hit the east coast was an eye opener but it’s not like it hasn’t happened to those people before.

Another sure sign of spring is when the Major League teams are at spring training in Florida and Arizona. The weather is great and with the snowbirds going south and the school spring break periods everyone wants to get back in the mood for the great game of baseball. It is a fun time and I highly recommend it. It can get your mind off the cold for a few days.

Another sure sign of spring is when the colleges make a decision if their basketball coach is going to return for next season. In Seattle, Head Coach Lorenzo Romar was let get go after winning only two Pac-12 games at the UW this year.

The question most people were asking was how can a team with the odds on favorite to go number 1 in the NBA draft not equate to more wins. Romar is an alum and well-liked but it has been six years since the Huskies last played in the NCAA tournament.

After the Huskies women went to the final four last year and playing in the NCAA tournament again with a high seed it really didn’t reflect well on Romar.

He could recruit but he couldn’t keep the good ones for more than a year or two. Face it Nigel Williams-Goss left Seattle for Spokane because he wanted to win. And there is another sign of spring when the Gonzaga Bulldogs are playing in the NCAA tournament.

Not every day is sunny and warm but at least the snow is gone! Happy Spring!