(The verses below come to us courtesy of Hyde Park's Mayor-for-Life and amateur meteorologist Dorothy Richter. They were written by her late and beloved husband Walter back in 1937, when he was a student at Southwest Texas Teachers' College (now Texas State U.), and edited the institution's publication "The College Star." These lines appeared in his regular column, entitled "El Toro" -- a reference to his well- known penchant for shooting same.)

When the flowers start their blooming, and the trees begin assuming
that veil of greenish color in their limbs;

When the sun's warm rays start falling and you hear again that calling
of the creek where you loved last year to swim;

When the weather gets more mellow and the sun becomes more yellow,
and you vision flouncing catfish on the string;

It is then you feel quite certain that for winter it's the curtain,
and you're absolutely sure that it is spring.

But you're apt to be mistaken, and your faith may soon be shaken
in the fact that you have seen the spring begin;

For in all my years together, I have found this Texas weather,
not the best of things to be a-trusting in.

For as soon as you've decided that the winter has subsided
you are greeted with a blast of wind and rain,

As the mercury goes lower than it ever was before,
and you dig those flannel undies out again.

But a very short time later comes the Cold Eradicator,
and the icy chill again seems quite remote.

So you'd do your best preparing if you'd try your hand at wearing
your bathing suit beneath your overcoat.

Trinity United Methodist Church   notchurdaddysmethodistchurch   Liberal. Progressive. Inclusive. 600 E. 50th St.     www.tumc.org     459-5835     Services 9 & 11 Sundays