March is already half over. Looking at it another way, there are still two weeks to go.

March is known as a changeable, fickle month. The astrological sign associated with March is Pisces, the Fishes, the most indecisive sign of the zodiac. Round and round the fish bowl of your mind they circle. Will I, won’t I, do I, don’t I.

March: In like a lion, out like a lamb. So goes the old adage, but we all know that it’s just as often the other way around. The weather may take a sudden turn at any moment. Sun, showers and rainbows are followed by howling winds and blinding snow.

One thing you need not worry about is the Ides of March.

Maybe you’re saying, “Yes, but, we had to read ‘Julius Caesar’ by Shakespeare in high school, and the one thing I came away with was the warning ‘Beware the Ides of March!'” Also, I remember that the Ides of March means March 15th because that was on the test, and I’m pretty sure I got it right, since I was copying off Sue Cargill’s paper.

Ah yes, copying off Sue Cargill, far from being a sign of shiftlessness on your part, was probably the smartest thing you ever did in school. It’s a pity you don’t know where to find Sue Cargill anymore, since she could probably give you some pointers at this stage of your life, clue you in to where you’ve been going wrong. She moved out West, is the last I heard.

I can assure you, however, that Sue Cargill was always too smart to fall for conspiracy theories or superstitions. I can guess what she would say: Just because Julius Caesar was killed on the Ides of March doesn’t necessarily mean you will be.

Here’s what National Geographic/Education has to say on the subject: Julius Caesar was assassinated by about 40 Roman senators on March 15, 44 B. C.

That was a very long time ago, and it doesn’t follow that you or anyone else is particularly likely to be attacked by senators on March 15. I would be more leery of certain members of the House of Representatives.

I consider March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, to be more dangerous than the 15th because, like New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally celebrated in the United States with heavy drinking. Regardless of ancestry — although it is my theory that pretty much every American is part Irish — customers in taverns across the country toast each other with Guinness ale and Irish whiskey and swill pitchers of the ubiquitous and more affordable green beer special to this holiday. Corned beef, cabbage and soda bread are on the menu, and random green garments and funny hats may be worn. This year March 17 falls on a Sunday, so by Monday morning it will be back to school and work.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted warmer than average temperatures for March, April and May for the Adirondacks this year, and it’s true that we’ve been enjoying an early mud season. That doesn’t preclude the usual fickleness and changeableness of March.

Yesterday, for example, I woke up as usual and turned on my bedside lamp, or thought I had. Click, then nothing. I could hear the wind whistling and banging things around. Great, I thought, the power is out!

This meant no coffee. Outside the window the wind was whipping sheets of snow around and the sky was an ominous gray. Not an inviting scene, but I had no coffee, so I dressed and went out.

Luckily, I live near the Old Mountain Coffee Company cafe in Keene Valley, and it has a generator. It was warm inside; the smell of coffee and breakfast cooking was wonderful. Other people had sheltered there from the storm, and the feeling of camaraderie was powerful. Keene Central School and Little Peaks Preschool were canceled, as well as some other places of work. I talked with old friends I hadn’t seen for a while.

The power came back on a little after 1 o’clock, and as if on command the skies cleared, the sun poured down and the wind abruptly diminished to a light breeze.

Weather forecast for the rest of the week: sun, rain, temperatures in the 40s and 50s.

Sue Cargill, if you see this, I’d love to hear from you, wherever you are!

Have a good week.

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(Martha Allen, of Keene Valley, has been writing for the Lake Placid News for more than 20 years.)