EDITORIAL- Don’t let temporary temperatures fool you

By STAFF EDITORIAL

There is a certain “je ne sais quoi” about it — that even nature would play tricks on us…. There is a certain “je ne sais quoi” about it — that even nature would play tricks on us.

Fellow Pittsburgh dwellers, Mother Nature has plotted against us and wants to have the last laugh this year for April Fools’ Day.

The high temperature two days ago was 69 degrees. Yesterday,the peak temperature was 72. Today the temperature has declined, and there is a 60 percent chance of rain. The weekend isn’t looking too pleasant either. There is even rumor of snow in the weekend forecast. Too bad most of us spent the past few days in class.

But weren’t the past two days wonderful? The sun was out, and its rays lightly kissed the extra skin cute campus co-eds were blissfully showing off after a winter of sweat suits and sweaters. And it was a mild winter at that, especially for Pittsburgh.

It seems almost planned and nearly perfectly executed in the manner of a truly sinister villain. Sure, it snowed and rained this winter, but this is Pittsburgh and it could have been worse.

There was no reason to believe that spring hadn’t sprung. It’s April, after all, and the first day of spring on the calendar is March 21. Alas, we were almost duped. The joke was on us.

Don’t get caught dressed inappropriately for the weather changes. Many people have been or are getting sick. Mother Nature knows her prey well: We are too eager to enjoy good weather. We walked right into the trap.

Those of us who shivered nightly at bus stops in our camisoles, tank tops, flip-flops and shorts, because the warm days gave way to cold — not cool — nights, got served. We were fools to Mother Nature’s cruel April Fools’ set up for the big prank.

And where is the sun? Rather than pouring out rays of sunshine, the skies are giving the gift of rain.

This must be really funny to good ol’ Mother Nature.

But let us not complain because it could be worse. Mother Nature must not get the best of us.

We could be a city that experiences earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Instead, we just have gray skies, extended winters and an average of 47 sunny days per year. It’s not that bad, really.

We shouldn’t feel frustrated with the weather. Let Mother Nature have her fun. The weather will eventually change again. The clouds will roll away and we will see clearly that the rain is gone. It will be a bright, bright sun-shining day.