by Christine Costlow

Created on: March 05, 2010

A foreboding sky greeting me this morning. A sullen grey light shone malevolently, hinting of worse to come. As I retrieved the newspaper from it's box at the end of the driveway, I felt a need to hurry back into the safety of the house. "March has always been an unreliable month", I thought to myself. It makes liars out of the weather forecasters, and leaves everyone wondering what will happen next.

As I reached the safety of the house, I heard the first rumble of approaching thunder, like a fearsome old warrior clearing his throat before battle. It seems so unfair, in a month that hints at spring on the calendar, that we should have to cringe from such belligerent weather. Thankfully, a quick check of the outdoor thermometer revealed a temperature to warm for snow. It's cold enough to be a completely miserable cold rainy day, however. Since I'm going to work, I erlish the extra ten minutes I'll have, since there's no reason to spend much time curling my hair. It looks like the downpour will start before I get out of the parking garage and into the office. Therefore, no one will see me properly coiffed, and I mentally settle for a "rain hairdo".

Sure enough, the first drizzle begins tapping against my window, as I pour that second cup of coffee.  It increases in intensity almost immediately. I wander to my closet, and select an outfit that won't be pockmarked by raindrops all day, if it get a little wet. I dig for my big, clunky waterproof shoes, since wet feet will often ruin my whole day.

The storm has now worked itself into a frenzy. That weather warrior is hurling enormous droplet at my window, using the wind to leterally blow it sideways at a ridiculous speed. No use for an umbrella, then. Looks like a rain slicker kind of morning. I secretly wish I could wear those plastic bonnets that the elderly polish women in the grocery store often sport. You know, the disposable ones that come all folded up, and tie like a handkerchief under your chin. I can just imagine the taunts I'd get from my co-workers. It would be worse than the time I rode my bicycle to work. In retrospect, the Lycra bike shorts were a bad idea.

Looks like biking weather is unlikely to start early this year. I'll be stuck spinning in the gym until the weather chooses a different direction. Well, it's time for one last trip through the house to gather keys, phone and other gadgets that I didn't own 2 years ago, but now can't live without. With a full purse and complete rain gear, I step outside. I'm greeted by the beginning peep of sunshine, with the dark clouds scurrying away as quickly as they blew in.  The Ides of March were unlucky for Caesar, but it looks like they'll be kind to me today!

Learn more about this author, Christine Costlow.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.