Last week when the temperature was about 80 degrees one day and barely made it to 40 the next day, I heard more than one person say how that was “typical spring weather for the Ozarks.”
No doubt. The weather in these parts can sometimes change pretty drastically within a 24-hour period.
But the occurrence also made me ponder the old saying, “what a difference a day makes.” Basically, weather isn’t the only thing that can change big-time from one day to the next.
Anything and everything can.
One day you could be traveling around in the vehicle you’ve enjoyed driving for years and the next day you’re looking for a new one after being involved in a crash.
One day you could be tending to the young plants that are off to a great start in your vegetable garden and the next day you could be lamenting how much time you wasted on it after an armadillo or some other varmint somehow got through the protective fence and dug up everything.
One day your favorite sports team could be leading the league and on the way to a championship and the next day it could begin a slide to the cellar after losing its best player to an injury.
One day you could claim you can’t stand a particular type of food and the next day you could be looking for it in the grocery store after having it served to you at a relative’s house.
One day several old pine trees can be standing where they have for decades on your property and the next day they can be lying on the ground after being blown over by a super-strong straight-line wind.
One day your house could be in perfect condition and the next day it could be in shambles after being hit by a tornado.
One day you could be jogging on a beach and the next day you could be in a wheelchair after suffering an unforeseen medical emergency.
One day a world leader could promise that something will “never happen” and the next day be explaining why it did.
One day a person could be unknown to almost everybody and the next day be one of the most famous people to ever live after some sort of strange and unusual circumstance.
One day a nuclear power plant could be operating as usual and the next day be the center of a catastrophic accident with ramifications lasting for decades.
One day a family of four could appear to be a happy, loving group and the next day their friends could be wondering what happened after all four were killed in a murder-suicide.
One day citizens of the world could be accustomed to one form of order and the next day be introduced to another, vastly different form.
And let’s face it: One day you could be healthy and active, and the next day you could be dead.
Anyway, all manner of change can take place quickly and surprisingly, sometimes with wide-ranging ramifications or consequences.
The reality is, there are just no guarantees in life, including life itself.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Email: ddavison@houstonherald.com.
