Later today when I cover the Aberdeen Central girls’ softball team’s inaugural home game, I will set a less noteworthy mark: my first assignment in over a week.

My sympathies go out to the area schools and their spring sport athletes that have had to cope with the final blast of winter over the northeast corner of South Dakota. I share their anxiety of will there be games and enough opportunities to even make it a season, what with all the snow still littering tennis courts, tracks and golf courses.

But I felt the need to share a few words and more notably a pair of photographs that I believe tell the tale of woe we have all lived recently.

A brief explanation first. I carry on a family tradition of “How’s the weather up there?” that I started with my father years ago when I first moved to Aberdeen. These days the conversation is shared with my daughter who resides in a Kansas City suburb. Needless to say I am the one usually providing a weather report, that is where the two photos come into play. 

The image of me in front of my house with all the snow was taken Wednesday April 5 after a fresh 10 plus inches arrived by way of blizzard. Meaning between the snow and Easter week there were few if any local sports events for me to cover. Which explains the current deeper than normal groove in my couch cushion.

As you may have guessed the other image was taken a week later, yesterday April 12. While locations to the south were experiencing June-like 90 degree highs, the deep snow cover kept our “feels like” weather in the 40’s and 50’s.

Seeing the two images brought about a response of surprise from my daughter and I too had to look twice to see how much things had really changed. I guess I had been too busy shoveling puddles of water from my sidewalk to notice the progress. 

So here is to the good news that area athletes will be able to practice and play outdoors more often now. And to the even better news that my basement is still dry ( I hope yours is as well). 

It had gone through my mind a few days ago while watching my dog struggle to get through the back yard that with the volume of snow it would be mid-May before I would have to worry about mowing.

I may have spoken too soon.