Just for a moment, the warmth and liveliness of the city made us believe winter was over
Last week, I went on a walk along Lakeshore Path wearing a tank top. No jacket. No sweatshirt. Just a tank top and pants in Madison, Wisconsin in early March.After almost four months of layering up to go outside and walk two blocks to lectures, it felt wrong to walk next to the lake without feeling cold. It felt like winter might be over since the air felt warm and campus was particularly lively on a Monday.
I had music blasting in my headphones (specifically Harry Styles’ new album on repeat) and couldn’t help but notice just how many people were outside—there were so many people running, biking, playing soccer and setting up spikeball. Friends were sitting along the lake, taking photos and laughing together. You could just tell that everyone had been waiting forever for a day like this to come again.
Every few strides, I’d pass someone who smiled as we crossed paths. Wisconsinites are usually friendly, but that day the energy in the community felt different. Everyone seemed happier and genuinely relieved to be outside breathing fresh, warm air. I saw families with little kids running around near Picnic Point, laughing and playing games. After what felt like the longest Midwest winter ever, it seemed like everyone decided to go outside.
By the time I was almost at my starting spot again, the sky turned into this cotton candy pink. The view was absolutely gorgeous with the city skyline in the background and the dome of the iconic Capitol building peeking up over the other structures. It really did feel like winter was coming to an end. For just a second, it felt like the whole city was out enjoying the moment. If you live in Madison though, you already know how this story ends.
As I’m writing this article, I’m in Grainger Hall sitting next to a window watching snow fall outside. The ground is completely white again. It’s mid-March, we’re about to go on spring break and if someone told me it was mid-January, I would believe them. The forecast says we’re going to get more than 15 inches of snow in the next 24 hours, which feels absurd considering that less than a week ago I was walking on Lakeshore Path in a tank top.
That’s the thing about the Midwestern “false spring.” Every year, Madison gives us a perfect day (or two, if we’re lucky) to make us believe winter is finally over. The snow melts, we can see the grass, the sun comes out more often and people on campus rush outside like they’ve been waiting since late October for this exact moment.
Honestly, that’s the main reason why these days are so special, even if the wintery conditions come right back. For one evening on Lakeshore Path, with music blasting in my headphones and what felt like the entire Madison population outside enjoying the warmth, it felt like spring was actually here. And for just a moment, I believed it.