Spring is here . . . and then it isn't

My day started at 4 a.m. I had to finish preparing for one class; but, more importantly, I had to prepare for a negotiation assignment. The morning slipped away from me, and I did not have time to exercise before school (a recent ritual I have added to my morning routine). I arrived at school at 7:30 a.m. to meet with my partner, review a few final details regarding our strategy, and then we entered the negotiation room at 8:00 a.m.

Fast forward seven hours, and it's 3:00 p.m. I have been in classrooms or the library since arriving this morning, so I am absolutely delighted when I hit the doors and find that it is sunny and 75 degrees. I heard the weather man say it would be "unseasonably warm" today, but who knew he was talking about 75 degrees? On the ride home, the windows are down, and I am quickly developing a plan that includes me and sunshine for the afternoon.

First things first, though. I take Abby on a long walk so that she can enjoy the sunshine as well. I notice that the ducks have returned to our pond--Mallards, two male and one female. They weren't here this morning--at 5:00 a.m.--when I last walked Abby. For whatever it's worth, I'm taking their return as a sign that the worst of winter is behind us.

After taking care of Abby, I quickly changed into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. I packed a few books in my bag and decide to do tomorrow's reading outdoors. The plan is to pick up something quick for an early dinner, then return to campus and soak up some sunshine while doing the obligatory reading assignments. Afterward, before day's end, I will catch up on the exercising that I had to skip this morning--perhaps with a walk around campus or a jog at the track.

By the time I make it back to campus it is 4:00 p.m., and I head for the baseball field. There's a wonderful grassy hill that runs along the first base line. On almost any warm day you will find students lined up along this hill studying, reading, picnicking, etc., and today is no different.

Clouds were moving in and the wind was picking up by the time I unpacked my books. I settled in and started reading. The wind was brisk, and I didn't bring a blanket or coat. Just a few minutes earlier I had left the house in shorts and a t-shirt, and now I seemed woefully under-dressed. Within 15 minutes, I looked around, and I was the only person left on the hill . . . and I was freezing! I just couldn't believe how drastically the weather had changed in such a short time; but, by this time, the temperature had dropped to 65 degrees, and the wind made it feel cooler than that.

By 5:00 p.m., I am home and wondering how such a good idea could turn into such a bad idea in such a short amount of time. In short, there was no wonderful afternoon of studying on the hillside, and there was no exercising on campus. I made a point of coming home and crawling under a blanket while I watched the early evening news. And I can't help but wonder if those ducks are warm tonight.