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The fickle month of April is winding down, and I couldn't be happier. It's frustrating to not know when to truly unpack the shorts and sandals. One day it's 80 degrees and next you're scrambling to find your heavy parka again.
The shoe rack inside my kitchen door contains colorful flip flops, lined snow boots, lightweight Skechers and rain boots. It pays to be prepared, but this is ridiculous.
Spring is usually the time we talk about what we will plant this year for the deer and other wildlife to enjoy. I cleaned the hummingbird feeders and cooked up some nectar for the tiny visitors. I've talked to my rose bushes in hopes that my pruning efforts will not discourage their blooms this year.
I've unfolded a lawn chair or two to enjoy some sunshine only to refold them and tuck them out of the winds we have experienced lately. I cut the grass once already and then watched the frost tease the lawn back to sleep. I took a quick look at the tulips at Oglebay before rain and wind were apt to toss them around.
Yes, April is a time of ups and downs, ins and outs and out with the old and in with the new. And there are no more examples of that than along National Road in the Woodsdale/Leatherwood areas of Wheeling.
Oversized heavy machinery have been common sights there this past week. The iconic Minit Car Wash met the wrecking ball in quick fashion. It didn't appear to take much effort to pull the Quonset hut-style building to the ground. Gone are the memories of Saturday car washes performed there for my parents' classic DeSoto and later, their various station wagons.
Across the street, the former dry cleaners and laundromat are being torn down. This is a massive building with a deep history. If the walls could talk, they might recall the art shows once held in the basement or the martial arts classes conducted upstairs.
We can't forget the immeasurable number of dress shirts, suits and dresses that were cleaned and pressed within those walls. As a kid, I found it fascinating to watch the huge circular racks spin around until they magically located your dry cleaning.
Next on the raze list will be the former Hardee's restaurant that also once was a Burger Chef. It has sat empty for a while now and public speculation of development there has been satisfied with the promise of a Dunkin Donuts at that site.
With so much kicking up dust in April, it makes me wonder what May will bring. I guess we'll just have to wait and see while we wash our own cars.
Heather Ziegler can be reached via email at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.