23 February 2002
Subject: This Crazy Weather
Dear Ones,
Is this weather crazy, or what?
Just look at the world's weather headlines of recent years, "Bitter
cold in Europe and North America; Heat wave and bushfires in Australia;
Torrential rains in Brazil; Drought in many parts of Saudi Arabia..."
And, now, right here at home, as well, things are kinda topsy-turvy in
the weather department. Spring-like temperatures have caused some
rather premature "happenings” to occur around here. Our trees and azalea
bushes are beginning to bloom. The daffodils are showing their beautiful
yellow heads. Some of my neighbors have already planted their Irish
potatoes. I even mowed my lawn this past week... as the temperature reached 75
degrees.
All these things cause me to shook my head in
disbelief. After all, it's just February and we are supposed to be in the middle
of winter... even in the Deep South. It's no wonder everywhere you go the
conversation turns to the weather and it's ever-changing nature.
I heard on TV last week that El Nino is coming back to visit
the United States this year. Shucks, I can't even tell you when La Nina (the
opposite phase of these weather patterns) was here for her last visit. I just
know that every time I pick up a newspaper or magazine, I read some article
about how dramatically different our weather is from previous years.
There used to a time when you could predict the weather
based on what occurred that particular month in previous years. Now, I wonder if
our monthly weather conditions around here might be likened to a kind of
crazy tango – dry, wet, wet, wet, dry.... or cold, warm, warm, warm, cold.
That means those hot and humid dog days of summer would be like a
slow-moving, seemingly never-ending waltz. And, I guess the tornado season
in the mid-West and our hurricane season in the South would equate to something
like a rousing polka.
Hey, folks, please forgive me for such ramblings.... I think this
crazy weather just might be driving me a little insane.
Have a GREAT Saturday and may all your days be free of
storms.
Don
