As of March 2026, Oklahoma had already seen significant wildfire activity, scorching over 300,000 acres. According to the calendar, March 20th marked the beginning of spring. If I could insert the sound of a record scratch right now, I would, because Mother Nature clearly has a different idea about the four seasons.
This is the first time I’ve ever turned on my air conditioner before May. Over the last few weeks, I’ve spotted wasps, ladybugs, and monstrous mosquitoes, mosquitoes on steroids. Perhaps Mother Nature skipped that part of the year to deplete the bug population.
After retirement, I was looking forward to not having to drive on icy roads or slide out of my driveway. Normally, mowing doesn’t start until April, but this year, the little purple weeds have already appeared, and mowing has begun. I’m still debating whether to pack away my winter clothes or pull out my summer wardrobe. Cool mornings call for a sweatshirt, but by afternoon, it’s T-shirt weather. I haven’t given up my electric blanket yet, my feet are still icicles.
As I list all the reasons Mother Nature seems to have thrown us a curveball this year, the wind picks up. There’s that familiar dryness in the air. Then the sirens sound. Social media tells the story: people evacuated from their homes, livelihoods at risk, and firefighters leaving their families to battle the blaze. Their loved ones wait and pray, hoping they return safely.
Suddenly, mowing the lawn doesn’t seem so important. Running the air conditioner feels like a blessing. Swatting those pesky bugs seems trivial. What truly matters is that lives are saved. And when you see a firefighter, maybe take a moment to say, “Thank you.” We never know when we might need them to fight the next beast.
