Did someone say that spring is on the way?

It’s a snowy Monday, President’s Day, Feb. 15 as I write this column. And more snow is predicted throughout this week and combined with frigid temperatures it seems like a winter of old. Ah the memories! Walking to school in those four-foot snowdrifts, bundled up like a roly poly teddy bear. And the mention of a teddy bear brings back more memories – a long ago Valentine’s Day gift.

We do seem to have our worst winter weather now in February instead of January. This drift of weather, if you will, has happened slowly – at least it seems slow to our way of thinking about time. This could also just be my own imagination or observations over the past couple of decades.

We’re all so more than ready for getting things back to normal. The frustration that people are feeling is palpable indeed, at least from the conversations that I have had with folks. This is probably a significant understatement – because we all know that we are more than ready for normal – or, perhaps, the “new” normal, whatever that is.

Have you noticed more advertisements for online food shopping vendors? It’s real and no doubt a definite result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Something caught me by surprise last week and it shouldn’t have – The Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team is number four in the country with a big game coming up against TTUN this Sunday, Feb. 21. TTUN is ranked number three. So, if we couldn’t have our annual challenge in football, basketball will have to take its place.

And when you flip open the pages of this edition of The Coshocton County Beacon, we will be just a few days over a month from spring – which arrives this year on March 20. It’s coming and every day is one day closer. And to think that I used to like winter!

There is a new strain of the COVID-19 virus that has popped up in the United Kingdom and according to the scientists, it could be much worse that the original strain. Let’s put our confidence in the health and scientific community to figure this out and soon.

Michael McDowell won the rain delayed Daytona 500 with Chase Elliott number two. Last year’s winning driver, Denny Hamlin, finished in fifth. Hamlin had won the race two years in a row. McDowell was a 100-1 underdog when the race started. It is cool to see Michael Jordan now involved in NASCAR racing.

We absolutely must continue supporting our locally owned businesses throughout this winter and beyond. Shop and buy local whenever you can. Give our local businesses the opportunity and more times than not, they will deliver on your needs. Personal attention and service is still a vital component to doing business and is simply not the same when you shop online.

Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion