Thaw

Posted Jan 19,2010

It's January and this year, we're actually having a January thaw.  That's a good thing.  Last year there was too much snow to thaw in January and we never had weather warm enough to thaw snow.  We've been enjoying blue skies and warm air for a few days.  It gives us hope for spring.  Maybe it will come earlier this year and maybe, just maybe, we might even have summer this year!

I'm not much of a weather theorist.  I don't claim to be a scientist in any way, but I will say, that just as we were getting used to and looking forward to late falls and early springs and beautiful summer weather, last year was a shock back to the reality that we live in Northern Michigan where it's cold in the winter and the summers don't last half the year. 

We can call that a bad thing, but we are blessed to live in a climate that really has 4 seasons. (and, no, I'm not talking about the old joke of cold climate folks who name the 4 seasons something like almost winter, winter, really winter and warmer winter).   I'm talking about the beauty of winter where you get fresh snow nearly every day, so you have to shovel, but you get to shovel clean white snow and not the gray/brown slush folks of warmer climates are used to.  I'm talking about the beauty of real spring weather, where all of nature comes back to life; rain showers wash away the dirt of winter, trees and flowers blossom and bloom and nature brings forth a new generation-robins build nests on the porch swing, golfers discover fawns sleeping in long grass just off the fairway and ranks of turkeys march across the lawn leading their offspring into the warm sun.  I'm talking about summer that is warm and welcome after the cold of winter and the showers of spring.  Summer where the sun gets up before everyone and stays up way past bedtime, so you can enjoy every minute of it.  I'm talking about fall, where you can discover 10 shades of red and 20 shades of gold.

Florida?  Arizona?  They're wonderful places to visit, but give me Northern Michigan where we can enjoy the beauty of every season.

Enjoy the thaw folks.  Enjoy the snow that will surely follow.  Don't forget that spring and along with it, golf will follow.  See you then!