Spring Frenzy

“Spring Frenzy,” by the looks of the weather, is about to hit our area. Every year when the weather finally warms up everyone starts coming outside, working in their gardens, cleaning, and just in general, going, going, going. This Northern Midwest phenomenon occurs for one primary reason. Winter is long, cold, dark, grey, snowy, and limiting for many. The seasons have a huge effect on most Wisconsinites and the biggest one is winter. We stay inside more, drive less, and most people are probably a little more irritable. I know I don’t have the best of days when I have to shovel my driveway everyday for a couple weeks. I feel like in winter, I spend most of the time “hibernating.”

I bring this entire topic up because today is the first really warm and sunny day we’ve had in a long time. I saw number people in shorts out today, including Jerad, and even one pasty white guy topless in his convertible. Yes, it is a bright day in Wisconsin. While the sunshine lifts our spirits, the realization that we probably only have 4 months of it at the most is what drives us into Spring Frenzy 2007.

Spring Frenzy is probably not experienced by some other states. I suppose that is why our state has so many Florida and Arizona snow birds. I’m not sure I would know what to do with myself if I could live in my natural environment all year long in relative comfort. I’d certainly hope I’d have a tan year round. I like to think that I would exercise and play more sports. I know for sure that I’d have my morning tea or coffee in the garden much more often. I don’t wonder if having those 4 warm months for most of the year would not be as special. I’m sure I’d long to see a snow flake before long. Christmas would certainly not be as special without a snowfall; then again we do not always have that. So I guess I’m glad to live in Wisconsin where we change it up a lot. It makes life just a little bit more interesting.

Quiet Past the 8th Floor

When Jim died he was taken up to heaven and greeted at the gates by an Angel. The angel told Jim that since he was a Lutheran he would be on the 10Th floor. Jim was surprised but was glad that he would get to see all his fellow Lutherans. The Angel led Jim into the Great Elevator of Heaven. As they ascended, the Angel pointed out that the Baptists were on floor one, Methodists on floor 2, Episcopalians on floor 3, etc. When there were nearing the 8th floor the Angel became very excited and said, "Shhhhh" "You must be very, very quiet and not say anything when we go past the 8th floor." Jim asked why they had to be so quiet. The Angel replied, "Well Jim you have to be quiet when passing the 8th floor because that's where the Catholics are, and they don't think anyone else is up here."