Karen Stintz on Family Day and a long winter

Family Day is a gift of a day off in the middle of February. Although February is the shortest month of the year, it can feel long and is one of the coldest.

Monday was Family Day and it was absolutely beautiful. Although there was still snow on the ground, the sun was shining and the chill in the air started to warm. I did my run a bit later in the day in order to take advantage of a little sleep-in. When I ran through the ravine, I could see the snow beginning to melt and I saw a group of geese take off in flight. I could almost start to believe that there would be spring.

Then I woke up Tuesday morning. Although the temperature was a big improvement over last week, the three inches of fresh snow on the ground made any prospect of spring seem far away.  As Oscar and I pounded through the wet stuff, I considered the long winter we have had, the ice-storm, the snow, the cold temperatures, the mitts, hats, boots, layers and constant need of Kleenex. It has been a hard winter. I take comfort in how wonderful it will be when spring finally does arrive. I am looking forward to seeing that first buds on the trees as a reminder me that, however cold it has been, warmer days are ahead.