I'm ready to move. Today is the first day of spring and yet, when I drove to work, I saw snow on the ground. They may be giving away free Rita's water ice today, but that is about the only thing that shows me the season has arrived.

    Instead, the weather is still cool. It is still dark outside when I get up. Once again, I feel like we are in an endless winter. I have always lived in Pennsylvania, all of my life. People that aren't from here say that it must be wonderful to live here, as we have “four full seasons,” and get to enjoy each of them for a decent amount of time.

    I beg to differ. Instead, I feel like winter lasts an eternity. Spring and fall whiz by unnoticed and summer goes by even faster.

   I'd love someday to live somewhere where it is summer all the time. Some think that might be a bore, to have the same weather 365 days a year. But, if I never saw snow for the rest of my life, that would be just fine with me. And, anywhere I can wear shorts an flip flops every day doesn't sound too boring to me, either.

   Some people don't notice the weather nearly as much or at least it doesn't seem to bother them at much. However, I do. I hate winter. It is short days, little exposure to the sun, cold weather chilling to the bone … yuck.

   Even science has shown that lack of sunlight causes depression. Maybe that is my problem. Trust me, as a pale Irish girl, it isn't like I lay out all summer tanning, but just playing with the kids on a sunny day is so much more uplifting than a day indoors.

   Winter isn't just about sun for its uplifting elixir. There are so many other benefits of the beautiful weather. For one, people are in better shape. It's far easier to head out for a walk instead of camping out in front of the TV when the weather is warm.

   Secondly, you can open your windows. How stale is the air in your house? Won't it be great very soon when you can let in a breath of fresh air? I for one cannot wait until the plastic wrap comes off of my winterized panes of glass and a warm summer breeze can greet us instead.

   Barbecuing! There is another great part of spring and summer. I can't wait to get out the patio furniture and fire up the grill. Again, a task made much easier without a stack of snow on top of it.

   I miss our neighborhood, too. On warm summer days, nearly every yard is busy with life. Everyone is strolling up and down our street, the kids get to play and parents get to chat. With warmer weather, the residential streets come alive.

   I could go on and on. Warmer weather is just around the corner, but I just can't wait. I am more than sick of winter.

   I know, I should be patient. Spring, and heck even summer, is on its way. The eternal pessimist in me just thinks one thing … if summer is nearly here, winter won't be far away once more. Somehow it has a strange way of returning just as quick.

   What are you waiting for?