If April showers bring May flowers, what does April snow bring?

The old local legend is that 'if you don't like the weather in Essex county, wait 15 minutes.'

Well that was certainly proved today! I wouldn't kid about something so serious as the weather, after all it is the one subject anyone can bring up without feeling awkward. But really! Within one hour, I saw all of the following: cloudy skies, sunny skies, snow, sleet, rain, and what sounded like hail. The wind was gusting from all directions, and none at all.

Days like this cause me to think seriously about the patients that come in to the emergency room. Did I lose you just there? Let me clarify. We all know that allergies will flare up with the seasons. We are more susceptible to the cold or flu during a change in the weather. During the late fall, winter, and early spring, the sun's rays are not strong enough for North Americans to receive enough vitamin D through absorption. This strongly affects our moods.

Also there is the full moon phenomenon. This is a subject that is joked about all the time. Again, allow me to explain myself before you think that I am thinking far too spatially (although there's nothing wrong with that way of thinking, but if you follow my blog you should know that I like to start my day with a great big helping of common sense; more than is expected in that school of thought. Hm, it's called common sense, but it doesn't seem to be all that common!). If the moon controls the tides through gravitational pull, it must therefore control us as well. How you ask? The human body is composed of a variety of lovely things, but 60 - 70% of our composition is water. If the movement of the moon moves entire oceans, surely things happen to us as well! Could it be that there is an upward movement of blood throughout our bodies, causing a higher amount of fluid to the brain?

Mostly, when there is a full moon it is known that this is when the 'crazies' come out. If we believe that the gravitational pull has something to do with this, I would like to pose another question. What happens during a new moon? Would it be harder to maintain the chemical balances that dictate our health? Ever since I have asked myself these things, I have noticed one continuous trend. Full moon means up, new moon means down. Up means an increase in tempers (more bar fights), an increase in passion (more teenagers canoodling in the corners of the waiting room), and an increase in blood pressures (chest pain, and anything cardiac related). Down means a decrease of consciousness (falls for no particular reason, confusion), a decrease of pain tolerance (headaches, stomach aches, etc.), and a decrease of appreciation for life (higher rates of alcoholism, overdoses, and suicide attempts).

So what is snow, rain, sleet, sun and clouds going to do to the general populace?

I think I'm going to hide out at home for a while.