While much of the country will be enjoying Memorial Day weekend with Popsicles and tank tops, if our weather forecast is accurate, we will be celebrating with steaming lattes and fleece.

In line at the grocery store, a common discussion is weather.

“I can’t believe it’s the end of May and I still have my heat on,” I overheard a customer say.

I agree. As a matter of principle I hold to a personal rule that the heat is not turned on after Memorial Day. Throw on another sweatshirt and wrap yourself in a blanket. It’s practically summer, dangnabit.

In other parts of the country, kids are running through sprinklers and filling up wading pools.

Here we are wearing gloves on morning walks with the dogs.

But summer is coming, right?

I’ve lived in Kitsap for a while. And each year, I get discouraged when Memorial Day rolls around and we are dining inside, around plates of winter comfort food like hot lasagna. Instead we should be barbecuing and picnicking outdoors.

According to the Weather Underground website, the past 10 Memorial Days in Poulsbo have had an average high temperature of 62.4 degrees. So should I be surprised that Monday’s forecast calls for a high of 59 degrees?

It boils down to jealousy. I’m jealous of those people in other areas of the country who can sleep with their windows open and have their morning coffee on the patio.

But I suppose come August, they are jealous of us and our low humidity and picture- perfect days.

For a sure sign of summer, one needs to look no further than last week’s Fred Meyer ad. I drooled over the advertised flip-flops and outdoor furniture.

Even Freddie knows summer is coming. It just might take until mid-July.

But let’s look on the bright side. What’s the silver lining in having a chilly Memorial Day?

I won’t have to slather on sunscreen. I can put off the dreaded swimsuit shopping. And I can use up the bags of veggies in the freezer and throw together a nice Memorial Day stew.

Hot corn bread anyone?

The past 10 Memorial Day temperatures in Poulsbo:

2001: high 57, low 44 2002: high 66, low 51 2003: high 66, low 39 2004: high 60, low 48 2005: high 60, low 50 2006: high 62, low 46 2007: high 62, low 37 2008: high 64, low 48 2009: high 69, low 42 2010: high 58, low 53

Average high:  62.4      Average low: 46.8

— Ask Erin is a feature of Kitsap Week. Have a question? Write Ask Erin, Kitsap Week, P.O. Box 278, Poulsbo 98370 or email ejennings@northkitsapherald.com.