Happy Friday!

The rising sun prepares to warm a mid-winter Friday in Bridgewater.

Today, the sun cast its penetrating glow through the early morning clouds above Somerset County’s Second Watchung Range, announcing the beginning of what would be a 66° day in Bridgewater. 

I was lucky enough to be at my writing desk, with the southeast-facing window providing a full view when it happened.

It was touch and go, because the pre-dawn hours were overcast, and it didn’t look like the sun would pierce through, but it did, culminating a three-day tease of nature, which made me, and probably you too, yearn for spring.  But that is not to be – at least not yet.  Tonight, it’s down to 33° -- expect to get up to another cold morning. 

But that’s OK.  The rest of February, according to Accuweather, is predicted to have daytime temps ranging from the mid-30’s to the high-40’s.  But look out for next Friday:  52° and freezing rain – not good.  Let’s hope that the weather lady is all wrong.

I like the weather variations.  I really do.  Although I admit that my resolve about that wavered significantly when Bridgewater was being pummeled by those not-so-long-ago, successive snow storms. 

Perhaps having lived in New England, willfully braving the cold on the top of a hill overlooking the mouth of the Penobscot River in Maine; and, years later, the howling winter winds sweeping over our home less than two miles from the shore of New York’s Lake Ontario, helps. 

In any event, at the risk of repetition, every day that you and I can get up in the morning and go about our quotidian business is a good day.

After the stress of the high-powered work days that some of you experience in the course of your Central Jersey work lives – horrible commutes and all – it’s not a bad idea to be mindful of that.  All of us – no matter what our stations in life may be.

Take care out there.  Pamper yourselves a little this weekend:  You deserve it.

Thanks for reading.

Coming up:  Candidates for the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education