Spring in Chicago

Last year around this time, I wrote about a spring state of mind and what that means living in Chicago. And as we approach Daylight Savings in 2010, I can't help but to get caught up in the wind gust that is a change of the season from winter to spring. But looking at it now, there is a significant part of this transition that is lost among the shuffle.

Tomorrow is projected to be 57 degrees. This is something to get excited about. But last night was a low of about 37. And it was *still* something to get excited about after spending the last 4-5 months living in Chicago. I know we're not the only city in the world that has shitty winter months of weather, but if your 'winter' rarely dips below 50, then you really have no idea what it's like. What it's like to walk out and get bum rushed by ice wind, to get into your car and not be able to touch your steering wheel because its too cold. What it's like to live in snow.

Everybody gets to look forward to spring and summer. It's a state of mind. Kids are out of school, summer festivals, concert tours, sun bathing, pool parties, and eeeeeeverything else that gets put in the box for winter storage. We are not special in that sense (even if I'd argue that summer in Chicago rivals any city). But the reaction of this city when the weather starts to break above freezing is uncanny. Maybe we know how special summer in Chi really is, so maybe we anticipate it more than the average 4-season city. Maybe our skins are a little thicker, so maybe a foggy, 37 degree night actually feels warmer to us than everyone else.

But whatever it is, we get to get excited for 40 degrees. And yes, eventually we'll be able to get excited for 50s and 60s and 70s and even 80s and 90s, but for now, 40 degrees is everything we could ask for. 40 degrees feels good. It feels like home. But yes, of course, it feels like a sign of things to come, which, for those of you that get to enjoy it, is well worth the wait.