All seasons have their specialties and winter is no exception, but has the wonder gone out of your winter weather? It's a natural occurrence that this season will come as it does year after year, especially in northern New England and bring with it all its gifts. Questions and comments in winter range from wishing for the romance of a white Christmas to the pure frustration of yearning for snow to subside. When is it going to stop, how many feet have we gotten so far, where is my shovel, I can't take it any more, do we need bread and milk, let's get water, I won't chance going out in the snow and getting stuck, when will the snow start, noon or evening, it is soooo cold. We hang on every word put forth by weather forecasters and wow, do we take out our anger on them when their reports are wrong.
Of course, there are the diehard folks who head for the slopes when the snow tops the mountains.
As a senior, the slopes are not in my current routine when the snow peaks. I did my share but now at 70 years, I must protect my bones. After all they are not what they used to be. I now look for temperatures that approximate my age. Give me 70.
One of the grand expectations of winter is that it is followed by spring. It is February now and the snow has not subsided. Folks have taken to talking almost nonstop about weather conditions and to listen endlessly about the snow heights and times that the next storm will start. Even in February there is hope. Crocuses without fail will show their little heads and bodies and grow taller with the sun. This is a perfect science even as their wee heads pop from the ground and retreat if a storm comes on, soon to get taller with the sun. Crocuses are perfect harbingers of spring along with the robin. Snow, crocuses, robins. Nature at its best. And there is nothing we can do about it if choosing to live in northern New England.
One way to look at this winter phenomenon was put in these words. Any day we are alive is a good day. Yah, let's keep positive about our remaining days on earth even in winter blizzards. Spring is right around the corner and another round of seasons with all their wonderful points will be here soon.
