No more blue skies with white whispy clouds feathered across the horizon, no warm sun coming through the windows, and no more obligatory time spent reading on the patio. It is such a relief to free ones self from such unsullied delights. As 4:30 rolls around I know that shortly it will be dark and time to retreat to the closed up house. Fatigue will soon follow as my body is in tune with the shortened hours of light. The soft flannel sheets will start a subduded and distant call gradually escilating in volume until I finally surrender.
I have accepted this winter life for many years and have endured with only a little complaining because I am an Idaho Woman. I am from hardy stock and pride myself on being steadfast. My ancestors immigrated from the harsh climates of Scandinavia, therefore endowing me with cold genes. I have always been proud of the fact that I can survive the long bleak winters without large doses of vitiman D from the sun.
But recently I had an epiphany and it was life changing. Some friends took me on an eight hour drive to the sun. HALLELUJAH! My eyes have been opened. There is another life out there where winter is not a bleak gray, and blue skies still exist. What a revelation to find out that the sun does not leave the universe for seven months out of the year. It simply moves south. In this land of sun I found happy, smiling people. I felt happy too. My life will never be the same after this discovery. It will be much, much better.
Friends who took me to the happy place. See how happy they are.
Now I know why the relatives from the old country were so grumpy and stoic all winter----they were still looking for blue skies and sunshine.
I can actually escape the gray, renew myself periodically and endure the Idaho winter with a fresh outlook.
1 comment:
Loved your story on winter. You are so descriptive! I can identify with your feelings of the Southern parts of the US. I too have experienced that feeling of renewed joy at seeing the sun shine every day, the exhileration of taking a walk without wearing a heavy coat and snow boots, and not having to be afraid of falling on the slick walkways. Isn't it wonderful that there are so many different climes, and that we are privileged to enjoy some of them within a days drive. Keep writing. Jean
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