Spring has sprunked.

Can you feel it? It's in the air. It comes with the warm weather, the bright sun, and the longer days. It's evident as classes come to an end and people start venturing out more. It's in the music you start to hear from open car windows, in the chirping birds, the walking in zig zags to avoid puddles, and in the shedding of layers. The streets, bridges, and trails of our city are alive with people and kids and pets again. Another winter has come and gone and hope and excitement about a new season is palpable. Ever notice how people around here say it's going to be a great summer, every summer? What a a great feeling and perspective.

Many complain about winter. They are long and can be pretty harsh. This one seemed to start off early and cranky and held on a long time. Global Cooling was tossed around by academics, politicians, and lay people as the new thing to furrow our brow and shake our fist at. I think our winter makes our summer special. I don't think we would appreciate summer nearly as much without a long and trying winter. Summer in Saskatoon is special, and it's hard to describe what I mean using words. You know what I mean. Cause you've lived it. And cause you've experienced a prairie winter or two.

And so it is with life. You can't really have the dizzying highs without the terrifying lows. One gives meaning to the other, defines the other, and helps to set them apart.

I can hardly wait for the highs and lows of summer 2009.