The dramatic change in our weather recently has been like something out of the Chronicles of Narnia movie.
We went from consistent sunshine and clear skies to teeth-chattering, bone-chilling weather overnight.
Temperatures dropped into the teens, creating a perpetual winter wonderland.
It started as January was ending when many students were filled with glee about the prospect of school cancellations. It started a week of mixed conditions.
That Tuesday, the alert sign flashed on the TCC website: “All campuses closed.”
Most of us grinned from ear to ear.
Wednesday brought much of the same sentiment.
Snowball fights were no doubt still underway.
On Thursday, the slush on the ground became less appealing, and people started growing restless.
Cabin fever crept in and took over.
By Friday, laughter had flown the coop.
The record-breaking cold remained steady throughout the weekend with no real signs of slowing down. Even the Super Bowl in our backyard didn’t help.
Hope was kept alive when students were allowed back on campuses Monday, Feb. 7.
Students possessed a stride in their step rather than the usual stroll to class. Everyone was back in the habit and ready to put the icy nightmare behind.
People were healing from claustrophobia and backaches and frostbite caused by shoveling snow from driveways and scraping ice off cars.
Nonetheless, the forecast predicted more ice and snow by the upcoming Wednesday.
Without fail, the sleet came, and all campus activities were again brought to a screeching halt.
Now we’re thinking, “Jack Frost needs to go back to where he came from and leave us be.”
Although the weather was questionable and very cold, campuses reopened the next day.
We never thought we would see the day when students were happy to be back in school.
Faculty and students were behind with their appointments and schoolwork, and they are steadily trying to get back on track.
These past two weeks, we have been singing the snow blues, and we will not soon forget the challenges we endured.
Now, the weather is warm and expected to stay that way for at least a little while.
Therefore, let us move on and look to what the spring will bring.
