Let's Talk About...The Weather

Ok. Let's talk about the weather. Or, rather, who doesn't talk about the weather? Whether it's with a cashier at the market, the receptionist at the doctor's office, your spouse, your friends, or nearly anyone, the default subject is often the weather.

The range of subjects on this topic is vast. Today it is usually, "Oh, isn't it so nice that spring has finally come?" But it can easily be, "It's been so cold lately" which will soon morph into "It's been so hot lately."

You hear the negative spin: "I thought this was the longest coldest winter ever." "I heard we had more snow this year than we have had in a decade." "Windy enough for you?"

Or, just as likely, you might hear the positive spin: "This has been the mildest winter." "Spring just popped out from nowhere, didn't it? I love the rain." Or the inevitable, "I hope it rains. We could use the moisture."

Of course, you will then soon hear, "I am tired of the rain." "Climate change is really making it so much colder/hotter."

You catch my drift. Everyone talks about the weather.

Naturally, it's great to have something in common with everyone you meet. But here's the thing. My husband will ask me, "What's the temperature outside today?" (By the way, that is code for "What do I wear today? Do I need a light jacket, a fleece or a puffy?")

I usually turn to him and say, "Do I look like Al Roker to you?" So, even after I tell him whatever I heard from the guy at Starbucks yesterday, he will then ask poor beleaguered Alexa, "Alexa, what's the weather today?"

Alexa calmly responds in her Australian accent, "Currently, in Boulder it is 72 degrees Fahrenheit. This evening you can expect a low of 45 degrees." What ever happened to walking outside and looking? Open a window!

Why are we so dependent on apps to tell us what we can see with our own eyes and feel on our skin? When I hear, "Is it raining?" I just want to say, "Look up from your phone, open your eyes and look outside, sweetheart."

And that 10-day forecast (which is rarely accurate) is only really handy if we have an outdoor wedding to attend next Saturday or need to plant the back 40 or need to pack for a trip to Alaska or Mexico.

And when we know rain is coming, everyone runs to the supermarket to stock up on...what? Water? Toilet paper? Hot Pockets? It's not like Colorado gets a lot of tsunamis.

The good news is that the default subject of the weather really acts like a conversation starter which can lead almost anywhere. Maybe your recent trip to Cancun or that hike you took in Denali.

So, stay dry, stay warm, stay cool, be careful driving out there. And let's keep talking about the weather.