Winter vs. Spring: the saga

There is a show-down going on out here right now, between Winter and Spring. Winter is fighting for its rights, but Spring, in conjunction with the power of Sun, is clenching its fists and swinging in hard with the upper cut.

I saw GRASS today, people. GRASS!! GREEN GRASS! I have not seen this phenomenon in Edmonton since Halloween. HALLOWEEN! That is how long we've been surviving in a white and brown world of snow, ice and dirt.

Spring is finally showing up this week. Last week, we were sitting at minus 15 and now it's getting up to plus 10. Party!

One of the things I like about Edmonton is our perspective on temperatures. When I lived in Vancouver, I'd never dream of calling plus 5 warm and balmy. Now, however, it was plus 2 when I left my house this morning, and I thought "Sweet! It's SO WARM out!". Today, I saw people in skirts, capris, shorts and light jackets. Not a hide nor hair of toques, gloves or scarves. And it was only plus 5 at the time! After several months of an average of minus 15 (and we were below average a lot this year), anything near zero feels fantastic.

While I love the fact that winter is receding, the melting snow does provide some difficulties for the average pedestrian. In fact, most sidewalks are flooded with puddles at the least, or sport mini lakes at the worst. This is because partial melting produces water that is trapped within snowbanks and has nowhere to go. Enter wet feet. The other problem with this time of year is that it's still below zero at night, so all our nice puddles become sheets of ice every evening, increasing the hazard to the foot traveller. And don't even get me started on the half frozen slush pools that are hidden in dusk or the giant puddles that splash the unwary when the cars drive by...

Despite all these complaints, I am excited for it all to be gone. Hooray for spring! Goodbye snow! I will put up with wet feet for a few weeks in order to get rid of it all and move on to warmer times.