It's not like it was a particularly cold winter. I really shouldn't be complaining about being oppressed by the weather for the last few months, because we weren't. But the end of February gave us over an inch of precipitation in about a week--and enough gray and cold days in a row to think maybe (maybe) we'd been transplanted to the Northwest without our knowledge. But the clouds broke and the earth warmed up again.

This was the warm up week. Starting rather cold on Monday morning, but by Friday there was enough sunshine and warmth to cause a regional holiday. About a third of the office was gone on Friday, and the rest of us could hardly concentrate enough to stay at work past lunch.

That's right, spring is upon us.

This weekend took me an hour or so south of Albuquerque. With temperatures in the 70s and a bit of wind (but nothing strong enough to temper the heat unbearably), I hiked through the hills north of Magdelena. Looking at blue, blue sky, hearing the call and response of birds, smelling the fresh air and pinon trees, it was enough to remind my body of the good times. The warm time. The eight months or so out of the year when shorts are preferable and tans are free (unless you count the possibility of skin cancer--which will probably do a lot of us in by the time we're done with this place).

I got a healthy glow, covering up the glow in the dark translucence of my European heritage. This is when I realize I'm really New Mexican, rather than all of the divisions of family I hear a lot about at family gatherings.

But what it's really about is change. Getting out of the frigidness of winter (which leads to hiding from the cold and freezing of the mind) is imperative to having a fun and dynamic year.

And as the weather heats up, so does everything else.

Baseball is back, training in the warm confines of Arizona and Florida. Making deals and trying to get teams into shape. Maybe the Royals will be competitive for a month or two before sliding into the cellar--then again, maybe not.

And baseball is coming back to Albuquerque as well. The Albuquerque Isotopes (yes, named after a "Simpsons" episode) will begin play at the newly refurbished stadium in early April. Once again warm nights in the summer will be filled with beer, yelling and the occasional home run. It's been a few long years without an outlet to yell, "What're ya lookin' at Blue?"

Hikes in the mountains, biking on the trails, soccer in the park. Outside is the place to be. The nights keep staying warm, and jackets get thrown to the back of the closet.

And, of course, spring brings out the flirt in everyone. Less clothing, more leering, and more chances at a bit of happiness. There's a few out there for all of us, which is good. Sometimes the first few chances slip through unsure fingers, but the next one is easier to hold on to.

So, as I stare at the sun, trying to pry all the secrets from the one thing that's been here longer than anything else, I'm glad we've turned the cold corner into the bright warmness of spring.

Matt Worley will be basking in the sun on his favorite rock if you need him.