By VERNA BROCK
Any one experiencing deja vu? Just about a year ago we were dealing with a whole lot of snow and ice. At my house, the ice didn’t completely melt for nearly a week! This past weekend there was snow and rumors of snow, all across our region.
If you live just far enough north, or west, you welcomed everything from “wintry mix” to actual snow on Sunday morning. The live reporting from Colquitt made me a little jealous! The fat, wet snowflakes drifted down slowly, reminding me of my childhood in Michigan. I had a flashback to how the air smells of ozone on days like this, and how still it is. No wind, sounds are muffled, and you don’t even feel the cold. That morning, the two weathermen on site were like a couple of kids revelling in the joy of unexpected snow!
However, I do feel as though we should be rewarded with snow if we have to endure cold and wet weather.
In this area, it is a rare thing indeed to have both freezing temperatures combined with precipitation. We’re just too dang close to the coast. On Saturday, warm breezes flowed in from the Gulf, carrying the scent of marshes and salt water. On Sunday, the wind shifted and frigid air rolled down like a river. Just not quite far enough south.
Temperatures were predicted to drop into the low 20s and remain there every night for most of the week. Alas, there was still little, to no, precipitation to bring us any of the white fluffy stuff.
Lately, I’ve noticed all kinds of reminders about winter as a season in our lives. You know, the allegories of Spring (youth), Summer (maturity), Autumn (middle age) and Winter (the downhill roll to The Big Sleep).
But maybe we should approach our winter with the joy of children playing in unexpected snow. Slow down and breathe in the cold air that makes our noses glow, find our playful sides. There’s a lot to appreciate about winter.
Days are shorter, homes are cozier, and we even change how we eat. Bowls of hearty soups and chili warm our bones. And the restorative properties of hot chocolate shouldn’t be overlooked! Warm flannels and thick sweaters embrace like a comforting hug. Curling up with a good book and staying in is never more appealing.
Perhaps my feelings about winter are too shaped by my preconceived expectations. To be sure, I’m not overly fond of the cold. But I think I need an attitude adjustment, to really embrace this season, both literally and figuratively.
After all, I’ll have all of eternity to rest!