Chicago Spring, 2009

A few weeks ago, my co-worker/friend Sarah made the very valid complaint that this was going to be one of those Chicago winters where it went straight from Winter to Summer, with no stop at Spring.

Yet, today was a classic Spring day in Chicago. When I went to school at 8 AM, it was cool and sprinkling rain. When I got out of school, it was cool, but not raining. When I ran to the grocery store in the late afternoon, it was warmer, but raining a little. When I set out to go to work at 4:45, I ran back into the house and got into shorts because it was sunny and warm. I hopped on my bicycle and ran to work in that weather.

I walked my bike home from work in the cold pouring rain-- in my shorts and short-sleeves. Fortunately, I'd packed my umbrella, just in case, for this is a Chicago Spring day.

You may ask why we Chicagoans put up with it-- why we don't just run off to Southern California, Colorado, Arizona, or any other place with more reasonable weather. And then, a day like today happens, where, after a winter where you were sure you'd never ever again see anything green or colorful in this godforsaken place, in one day, a whole bunch of green and color erupts everywhere. A week ago, every one of the spots these pictures were taken would have been tones of brown. Every one of these pictures were taken today, near my school and near my home.