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Left-Handedness loses its stigma, but retains its mystery, NYT

The reference to weather here is random, and my comment is going to be random.  When I graduate and head back to somewhere mild, I will not miss NE winters.  I might miss seeing a snowstorm, but I won’t miss the interminable length and darkness.  However, I will miss the collective experience of winter.  It brings people together in a way that nothing in San Diego ever did.  Walking down a poorly plowed street, a stranger will yell words of encouragement to you to help you make it through  People ask you in the checkout line if you’re ready for the next big one coming in a day.  Elderly citizens are gently helped over a snowbank.  There’s this general awareness that we’re all in this together.  Rich or poor, young or old - no one can escape the cold and the ice without a plane ticket to the Bahamas.

Even though this article has nothing to do with weather and the segue to baseball didn’t at all require a mention of winter, it’s so perfect in there.  Because when winter ends, and especially a winter like this last one, that collective misery turns in an instant.  People are abuzz with relief and any conversation is a reason to mention spring and sun and longer days.  Passersby on the street will talk to you about how they’re so excited for their first hike of the spring.  Or getting back on their bikes.  The first few weekends of spring, the streets are just filled with people reacquainting themselves with the outdoors and readjusting to sun exposure.  Its a beautiful grander sense of community and the only thing that almost makes all of this okay.