If you have read the story in this week's issue of the Province on the welcome turn of weather from the recent prolonged bitter cold snap to the warm and seasonably balmy temperatures of the last few days, you may have noticed there is also a change in the national weatherman.
All winter long media outlets across the country, including the Province, have been calling on weather czar David Phillips, Environment Canada's senior climatologist, for explanations about the most talked about story locally and nationally over the past four months. Last week I gave Phillips a call and his voice mail said he was getting out of town to hitch a ride on a warm and cozy air mass.
“Given the weather prospects for March, I've decided to disappear — to get out of town, get out of country,” said Phillips' message. “Mind you, not a witness protection program, but with all that winter weather rage out there, I thought it would be best to come back in a different season.”
Many would opine that Phillips could hardly be blamed. After all, his job this season is considered by most as a vocation on par with being a Revenue Canada tax auditor, the sort of thing that is more often than not both loathed and feared.
But nevertheless his colleague Bill McMurtry filled in just fine, just in time to offer a fresh bit of optimistic news that maybe, just maybe, we are on the cusp of some relief here. Yes, it has been a mostly grim winter; punctuated by polar vortex slams and the notion the misery will go on forever. But hey, Bill has offered us hope and maybe it is time to look joyously ahead for those better days of spring.
And why not? Spring is a time of rebirth and hope. It is a sign for all to start thinking about those better days of warm glorious sunshine, and to plan and move forward with limitless optimism and enjoy every bit of wonder the outdoor world can offer.
As for me, I am going back to Mexico in May. My daughter is getting married in Tulum, the other side of this fine country where I enjoyed complete bliss late last November in Puerto Vallarta, only to arrive back amidst the worst pre-winter storm in recent memory. The gods were quickly reminding me that I was Canadian and I had better not forget it. But in May I can reasonably assume that when I return there won't be -35C temperatures or a blinding snowstorm to drive through from the Calgary airport. But then again, this is Canada where all bets are off when it comes to the weather.
Mostly though I long for my treks across the dusty back roads of Western Canada where after a day of 12 to 16 straight hours of driving to forgotten ghost towns and ancient relics of the past, I can just stop on the side of the road, pitch a tent and gaze at the stars. For me, that is my bit of heaven on earth, until it's time to come home and scribble once more.
Others of course, have their own Utopia, all good, and free from the rigours of a season that brought a wee bit too much frustration and complaining.
And with this promise of spring, there will also be welcomed comfort for our maligned weatherman.
