Did I speak too soon?  It has been known to happen on more than one occasion, so it could be my fault.  It could also be some of you got too comfortable and lost your focus on THINKING SPRING.  I read on social media that it was an April Fool’s joke coordinated by Mother Nature and I guess, being it was on the internet, it must be true, so let’s just go with that.  No matter the reason, the weather forecast for the upcoming week seems to be more pleasant and hopefully the meteorologists are correct this time.  Mom used to say frequently that baseball players and weather people are the only folks who can get it right 30% of the time and keep their job.  For the non-baseball folks that are reading this, if you had a batting line-up of hitters who were all getting hits every three out of ten at-bats, you would have a team batting average over .300 which any manager would be extremely excited about.

                We have very little to zero control over the weather.  Sometimes you just have to roll with it, right?  Isn’t that what Steve Winwood sings about on his 1988 lead single from his album with the same name?  “You got to roll with it, baby.”  There really is no amount of complaining about it on social media that will change the outcome.  It snowed.  On April 1, 2023.  This is Minnesota.  It happens.  Is it frustrating, especially to those who dislike winter immensely and are quite ready for it to move on?  Of course it is, and from numerous reports, even those who truly love winter and all the activities it offers, there is plenty of shared frustration happening right now.  I get it, venting and complaining about life can sometimes take the edge off a bit but it can also have an adverse effect.  Sometimes the more we rant and rave, the more frustrating things become.  Too often, that frustration spills over into other areas of our lives and then, before we even realized it was happening, we turn into a grumpy old curmudgeon who nobody wants to be around.  Would it be better to heed the words of Steve Winwood and “just roll with it?”  For some people, I am pretty sure it would while others may or may not have the capacity or desire to roll.  It just might be in their nature to not roll with it.

                As I look out the window, that April Fool’s joke is staring right back in the eyes.  I have agreed to coach baseball at the local Parochial School after a long hiatus and I am excited… I really am.  As I look out the window, that April Fool’s joke is staring right back in the eyes.  I am not excited about practicing in the gymnasium.  Baseball should be played outdoors, and that includes practicing.  There is simply a difference between playing a ground ball off the grass and off a hardwood court used for basketball.  Judging a flyball outdoors against the blue sky and one, limited in height due to the ceiling… again, there is absolutely no comparison.  As far as live hitting goes, there is no way, at least in the gym at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton that this is even possible.  Does our team have to roll with it?  What choice in the matter do we have?  I am sure the boys would love to be outside, on the grass, under sunny skies with temperatures at least nearing the 70’s.  Heck, I would wager that any and all of us would settle for 60 degrees if it is sunny.  Those days most likely are coming and with no ability to change what will be, all we can do is roll with it. 

                Will there be a few wicked hops off the floor that may generate a few bumps and bruises?  Most likely, but then again, that could happen doing just about anything that requires physical activity.  Could something get broken in the gym because again, baseball should be played outdoors and like mom said, never play ball in the house.  While the gym is a much larger area, the concept prevails.  In time, our time will come.  All our time is near.  Soon, we will all be outside again, doing what we love to do in the spring.  Biking, hiking, jogging (yes, some people really enjoy this one… weird, I know), fishing, camping, playing sports, watching sports… all of it, for all of us.  For now, we just got to roll with it but soon, you will be able to “Get Out and Enjoy the Great Outdoors.”