oh summer how I have missed thee

There is just something about the month of April that I love. Perhaps it's because it's that month where you know that Summer is almost here and Winter is finally over (or almost over in the case of Ohio). It's like, you make it through December and January and you're all right but you get to February and the beating that you have taken from the winter finally starts taking it's toll. You set your desktop background to some sort of exotic island landscape and stare blankly at it in hopes that perhaps with your mind powers you can transport yourself to that island. You start looking into moving to places such as Florida, California, Arizona or anywhere really that you can feel your extremities if you are outside for more than five minutes. You hibernate under blankets upon blankets. 

Then March gets here and it is sort of a tease. You'll get a warm day here or there (relatively speaking). Or maybe the sun will finally peak out from behind the clouds and even though it is only 45 degrees out, you treat it like it is 90. You crack the windows in the car while, you go outside sans a coat for the first time since Halloween. You'd probably hop in the pool if you could find one that is open but ultimately, 28 out of the 31 days in March there is no sun and it either rains or it snows.

But then April comes and all seems to be on the right path again. The birds begin their melodious tunes again. Squirrels no longer have to use an ice pick to dig up the nuts they buried what seems to be years ago. And O.A.R. or Jack Johnson can now be played without a deep depression overcoming me when thinking about how far away summer is. Nope, summer is coming. Oh it is coming all right. Nights of bonfires, s'mores and acoustic guitar ringing through the summer air. Nights of having the windows open and the warm breeze just cut through the house and embracing me like a long lost friend that I haven't seen in years. Nights of going to the drive-in, playing cards or just relaxing on the porch enjoying some good conversation.

Oh summer how I have missed thee. Come soon so we can both see what we have missed these past months that I have had to put up with your evil brother Winter.