March 30, 2025: March Madness

         A term originally coined years ago to summarize the NCAA spring Basketball Tournament, I have begun to feel that the term is applicable to much more than an athletic tournament.  Right now, it seems an apt description of life.

         As a life-long classroom teacher, I can attest to the fact that March is most definitely filled with madness. Once back from spring break, the school year is in its “final lap”.  This means that standardized testing looms, remaining standards need to be covered, and students are already thinking about summer break. Additionally, the pile of required paperwork and documentation grows. This is a combination that most definitely results in chaos on so many levels.

         As a college professor, the Spring Semester is in its final weeks, which any college student will tell you, is madness. My days are filled with supporting my college students as they complete final projects, submit required documentation, and meet important university deadlines.

         As a children’s book writer, the vast majority of my author events take place during the school year.  Literacy events, school author visits, and books signings. When schools, teachers, or media specialists reach out this time of year to try to get something scheduled, working around all of the other end-of-year considerations can be an immense challenge.

         Although the spring season officially begins during March, we all know that the weather patterns can be some of the most erratic. From blizzards to heat-waves, March seems to have it all. Even here in the south, where snow is not a concern, temperature shifts can wreak havoc with everything from our gardens to our wardrobes. A friend refers to this time of year as her leather coat with sandals season.  Getting spring gardens planted and growing strongly during these ping-ponging temperatures, can be demanding and taxing.

         While pollen counts impact us for several months each spring, my unofficial observation is that it seems to peak in March.  That means sniffles, coughs, headaches, runny eyes, and sore throats, are everywhere. And I mean EVERY WHERE! My classroom often sounds like a tuberculosis ward this time of year, and our poor school nurse has students lined up outside her door.

         Then, just for fun, add the spring breakers from across the country that stream into Florida this time of year, and madness goes off the charts. Whether it is Bike Week, Race Week, Snow Birds, or the college kids, traffic increases, restaurants are mobbed, and theme parks and attractions are packed to the limit. For me, that aspect of March is welcome though.  Just during these last two weeks I was able to spend time with my dearest friend who was in Florida for vacation, and with my sister, who was down visiting my dad.

         As someone who seeks out peace and organization and being in control, the craziness of March can indeed be difficult to reign in and manage. 

Perhaps that is when we have to just surrender to the madness that is March.