Spring

So, spring is trying to come to Fairbanks. I never say spring is officially here until the grass is green, because this time of year is notorious for having surprise snowstorms to throw us back into the depths of winter. This month or so of transition between winter to summer is an odd one up north. First off, you have temperatures below freezing a night and above freezing during the day. What this means is early in the morning your driveway is an ice skating ring and by mid-afternoon it is a pond. This means any outdoor activity needs multiple back up plans. When planning an outside escape the back of my car is filled with skis, running gear, and bike gear. You just never know what activity the weather gods will allow one to partake in. This time of year we are gaining up to seven minutes of daylight a day. This really can make your internal clock confused. Most people turn into insomniacs. The trick is not to turn into a zombie due to lack of sleep. People have gone to all sorts of extreme measures to conduce sleeping in the daylight. There is always the covering of windows, putting bandanas around eyes, and taking sleeping pills. Honestly, the best way(and cheapest) is to close your eyes. I know it sounds ridiculous, but close your eyes and lie there. Eventually, you will fall asleep. Spring also means planting season. For those of us who start to dream of gardens, we rush out to the store and turn the inside of our houses into mini greenhouses. My favorite part of spring is watching people re-emerge. Honestly, the population seems to double. Everyone is out shopping for home improvement supplies. The number of bikers and runners on the side of the road gets dangerous on Sunday afternoons. The best part is watching the people who are walking across the parking lot in tank tops and shorts, despite the 40 F temps. I blame this erratic behavior on too much sunlight exposure after a long winter. Honestly, it is a good thing that we ease into spring up here. Just imagine what would happen if we jumped from the cold of winter directly to the furry of the summer mosquitoes.