april fools

Ah, April Fools Day.

A fool's excuse to think he's funny.

I woke up to several inches of snow outside my windows. It looks like Nature's played the first trick on me today. Is it not really April? Are we in a perpetual January? Sure seems like it today. Slick roads. Heavy winter coats, accompanied by mittens and scarves. I find it thoroughly depressing.

The next joke I encountered this morning was as I ran to catch the train this morning. I could hear someone yelling as I stepped up from the platform onto the train. I wasn't really paying much attention, so I didn't realize I was the person this woman was talking/yelling to.

"There's something on your coat!!!"

I casually glanced down, fairly positive there wasn't anything on my red corduroy jacket. Seeing nothing, I continued to press my way into the middle of the train; all the seats were taken. Standing room only is what seems to greet me on the train as of late.

"Ha ha! I got you! April Fools! I made you look. April Fools!"

I smiled, partly amused at the innocent joke, partly irritated that someone would yell so loudly around me on the train so early in the morning. Because, you see, I am not a big fan of the train in the first place. Sure, it saves us money and eases the headache that comes while trying to park anywhere downtown. But, on the train, people cough on you. And you usually have to share a seat with a stranger. And when its crowded, people and bags sway into you and creepy men touch your hair. But I digress...

I found a little corner to stand in, away from the doors, away from as many people as possible. And I heard it again. "You have something on your coat!" I looked up, and saw another victim of this small woman's amusement. I smiled again, thinking to myself of the harmless joke, and how it could be worse. At least there was no silly string or anything that would make a mess and really irritate me.

But after the 12th time of hearing "You have something on your coat! April Fools! Made you look!" I have to admit, I started to wonder which stop this woman would get off at. I found myself wishing it was the next stop as the train accelerated from the previous one with this woman still laughing and yelling "April Fools!".

After the 26th time she repeated the joke, no I'm not exaggerating - 26 times counting mine as the first... I can only imagine how long she was on the train before I got on - she got off the train. There was a look of relief on the faces of several businessmen and university students who stood around me.

And although I was relieved as well to enjoy the rest of my ride in peace, I was grateful for the innocence of this woman. I'm sure she has a good heart and she is probably very compassionate.

And I'm glad she didn't spray silly string on me. Not that she had silly string. I don't even know.

I'm hoping that's the extent of the April Fools jokes forced upon me today. And that tomorrow will be spring and that this snow really is just a joke. Melt snow, MELT!

- - -

Thank you, April, for arriving not a moment too soon.
Now could you please just bring spring our way?