Thursday, 6/25

Really? They think Marquette is THAT cold?

For the past couple of weeks it really hasn't been very summer-like. As an example, it was only 60-ish and rainy yesterday, the fourth first day of summer. But given the type of year we've had so far, it wasn't snowing. So we have that going for us.

8-)

Anyway, as I was working yesterday I noticed tourists wandering up & down Front Street, a common site any day during summer. Only, I noticed that more than one of the tourists wandering up & down the street—maybe a dozen. actually--were wearing winter jackets, hats, and, in some cases, gloves. And that made me think two things, one is that I'm glad they were able to stay warm.

The second? Just how cold do they think Marquette IS if they felt the need to bring winter gear with them on a summer vacation? I mean sure, yesterday actually proved their point, but just how cold do they think Marquette is during the summer? So cold that you have to bring winter clothing with you in June?

I mean...what the what??

Two weeks today ago it was 86 degrees. We've actually (believe it or not) had five days over 80 so far this year. It's not like it doesn't get really warm here during the summer. It obviously does. But what kind of a reputation must a place have if people feel the need to bring winter gear to visit at the end of June? Do they actually think it's rainy and 60 every day of the summer here? Yesterday was (I hope) a fluke. It might have been the one of the few days in the past five summers where winter gear could've been useful. But these people obviously brought it as a matter of course, like they expected to use it. I mean, it';s not a tropical paradise here, but it isn't Siberia, either.

Well, excepting yesterday, of course.

Now, these visitors to our fair city will go home with a story to tell—about how they had to wear winter clothing on the fourth day of summer. It's a great story, and I hope they tell it to full effect. However, those stories will only perpetuate the myth that you'll need winter clothing when you visit Marquette in the summer. So don't be surprised if, in the near future, you see all kinds of people walking around with a winter coat on a summer's day.

It's all the fault of days like yesterday.

(jim@wmqt.com)