Life > April 3, 2008

By Theodore Aronson | Staff columnist

Spring has sprung, everyone. Among global warming instabilities and the traditional “in like a lion out like a lamb” attitude, spring has come and is here to stay. Well, what does this awakened sense of atmosphere provide for campus life? An entirely new venue for those displays and charades of you and yours.

Around this time of year, the weather’s inviting temperament asks us to take a step outside of the confines of our four-walled robotic routines and to take a deep breath of that which is all around us.

From the budding of the magnolia ambiance to the sound of crashing soft-tops clanking against metal chassis in parking lots everywhere, a wave of springtime has swept the campus.

Take it in, my friends. It’ll add that extra “umph” we all need from time to time. Now I know the recent rainy streak has put a damper on all our days, but you’ll be as happy as a street magician who gets more than two viewers on any given day – one being the senile truck driver who thinks he’s watching a giant cigarette play five card stud with Bert and Ernie, and the other being that old lonely woman whose main interests are colored blindfolds, percentages and freshly paved roads.

During this climate upturning, we can all benefit mentally and physically from taking a moment and enjoying the outdoors.

I suggest a number of activities from which you may choose based upon your own interests. Just recognize that each has potential for a bit of creative rehashing. A nice game of Frisbee, for instance, brightens anyone’s day.

Or perhaps try an intimate picnic feast away from the hustle and bustle of classroom customs.

Who wouldn’t give a finger or two to bask in the glory of an epic afternoon lounge session out on a traditionally grassy hill?

There are also the activities which require a rich mixture of athleticism, focus and a pinch of childish indifference.

The old egg and the spoon race can add some flavor to any relationship’s ways. The list goes on and on: three-legged race, burlap sack race, freeze tag, capture the flag.

Basically anything that you would find at a mediocre little kid’s birthday party will do, because who didn’t feel like they could conquer the world after owning in a match of freeze tag?

In so many ways does this good weather benefit the common couple. A little competition makes everything better; I don’t care what Marx says.

You can even make a friendly gentleman’s bet, or go for the gold and put some real money on the line.

And you can put any twist on money you like.

A bet is a promise as strong as the strongest demonstration of creed you can find in this world, so make things interesting. I once had a friend whose girlfriend lost a bet to him, so he made her shave her head and dress like him for two whole weeks.

I don’t know why but she stayed with him. Now that is a true display of commitment. In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, I’ll admit that story was completely untrue.

However, mini golf is another activity to add to the list of great spring time activities with your significant other.

Although, in my opinion, cheating in mini golf is as bad as or worse than cheating on your boy or girlfriend, so don’t spoil all the fun.

So get out there, stop reading. You’re wasting valuable time you could be spending in the midst of nature and the one you care for – an unstoppable combination towards the route to happiness.