Most people who live in Chicago know that an early spring does not
exist. However, most people provide themselves with the illusion that
there is a chance of 70-degree weather in April. Going outside today,
April 28, I did not need reminding that I would not be wearing shorts
today, or any day within the next few weeks for that matter. It seemed that
most people today thought that too.
Two women, Jennifer Misch (and account coordinator at Xerox) and
Katrina Jacobs (account associate, Xerox) stood outside of the Tribune
building, coat-less and shivering. Katrina doesn’ t think Chicago has a
spring. Jacobs missed our first good days of spring. So did Jennifer.
They both however, were in the midst of good weather in North Carolina
and Florida. Kim Thorton, of the Logan Square neighborhood on the
north-west side of Chicago, and associate art director for Chicago Magazine,
says “Sometimes I think it’ s harder when you get a little taste
of spring and then it gets cold again.”
So how does it feel when the long awaited spring weather finally
comes around? Tris Richardson, a deliveryman for Potbelly Sandwich Works
says, “It’s like a rebirth when you get the warm weather.”
Brandi Nance a newsstand specialist for Chicago Magazine and a current
resident of the Rogers Park neighborhood on the north side says in reply
to this question, “You can tell that people are starting to get
happier.”
For Brandi Nance, horrible weather in spring is new to her. She
moved here from Texas in the beginning of November. She says, “I never
thought I’d say I’m happy to see 50 degrees. 50 degrees in
Texas is winter.” People told her to be aware of the weather in
Chicago. They said, “It was blistering cold, windy and good luck.” I
wouldn’t say blistering cold of course; this weather is definitely
not turning my toes blue.
I will definitely be happy when the winter is over and spring
begins, but who’ s to say that this isn’t Chicago spring weather. As
Tris Richardson said, “I guess you’ve got to get used to it.”
This isn’t always easy, but winter/spring, a mutant created
especially in Chicago, is definitely here to stay.
