For me, it’s time for spring!

I used to like winter. At least in small doses. A dusting of snow. A nip in the air. For a while.

But this winter is different.

As I look out of my living room window at the piles of snow surrounding my house, my thoughts turn to spring. I’m ready. Now.

Earlier in the day, I was navigating the narrowed streets around our offices in a desperate search for parking near the Jewish Community Center on the East Side of Providence. It’s nasty out there.

Inside my home, the downstairs faucet is dripping so that the pipes don’t freeze. The driveway is still snow packed or icy in spots. And the growing stains on my ceiling are the result of massive icicles and ice dams on our roof, which are wreaking havoc as they begin to melt.

My husband just returned from a nightmare trip to Minneapolis where every flight he was booked on was canceled or substantially delayed – extending his trip to an even colder place by a full day. The planes were cold. The Ubers were cold. The hotel was cold. He claims he may never be warm again.

And while I’m thrilled that the Patriots are in the Super Bowl on Sunday, I can’t believe the forecast overnight Saturday is for wind chills of up t0 20 below zero! Really?

I know it is only the beginning of February, but I am beyond ready for all this to be over.

I’m tired of being cold. I’m sick of spending too much time inside. I want to do something about it. I’m frustrated at being sick myself and having so many friends and family sick that we’ve barely seen anyone socially for months.

So, what do I decide to do? I’ll go out and do some grocery shopping!

No, it makes no sense, but the fridge was getting a little barren. At least I’ll be moving and doing something. And I can wear a mask to protect myself.

So, I go to my local Stop and Shop. And what do I see?

A whole section of Passover products!!! Wait, Passover? Let me repeat. It is only the beginning of February. Passover starts at the beginning of April. That is more than 50 days!

I can’t help but wonder if these are leftovers from last year. Are they new? And whose idea was it to put them out at a sale price at the start of February?

This is my local Stop and Shop in Seekonk, not the Branch Avenue store in Providence that stocks a good supply of kosher items year-round and a robust number of Passover items as the holiday nears.

Anyone out there start preparing for Passover two months before the holiday? Has anyone else seen this stuff on sale this early?

Maybe someone just put this stuff out because they thought it would help people like me survive the cold and dream of spring. If so, I appreciate the gesture. But it isn’t enough. I think something like a plane ticket to somewhere warm might be a much better reminder.

Of course, that would involve boarding a plane. And my husband reminds me that flying can be a nightmare at this time of year. Sigh.

I’m trapped.

Fran Ostendorf,

Editor