© 2013 the Jotter’s Joint
The cold is coming. I can tell because the trees have started to shed their leaves at a rapid rate.
Some are already bald while others are receding gradually. A little lighter and thinner on top; but full and bushy around the edges.
Winter is my least favorite season.
My corner of the world will be devoid of color soon. Grey. Pale. Like a water color portrait of steel.
I enjoy Winter only for the first snow, especially if I’m home watching bright white hot innocence spill to the ground. I smile at it. In that moment, I welcome winter. It’s pure and undisturbed.
Then it becomes the guest who’s overstayed his welcome. Glaring at me. Moving in and settling down without concern.
I wrote these words back at the end of October as the weather started changing. It was part practice for scene description and part emotional response to the pending weather.
I was granted a reprieve because we didn’t get the first significant snow until the day after Christmas.
While others were dreaming of a white Christmas, I was wishing for it to dawn dingy green and brown with bare branches pointing in all directions.
Growing up, two inches of snow meant “Snow Day” which meant no school. It takes a lot more than two inches to garner a “Snow Day” here.
And even if schools shut down, places of business rarely do. Which is my way of saying, I still have to go to work even when the dudes are given an unexpected break.
I’ve worked for the same company for 12 years now and only twice in all those years have they closed their doors due to inclement weather.
I don’t ski or sled. I don’t like to make snow-angels or snowmen. Ice-skating? Forget it. I don’t like to be cold – I wear long sleeves in the summertime.
Winter weather is best for curling up on the sofa with a good book and a hot beverage of choice.
Christmas was just the beginning of five or six months of living under a cold ashy blanket. Okay? So some will say, “Winter Wonderland”. But it gets really old very quickly.
My dudes love the opportunities to be outside throwing snowballs and rolling around in the winter white. Okay, my youngest dude loves it. My oldest, not so much, he’s like his Momma in this regard.
Usually, the snowy opportunities come at school or the sitter’s.
They won’t have any childhood memories where I am a part of the snowy play. So, I will have to suck it up this year for the sake of my dudes.
But I’m still not excited about welcoming winter.
How do you respond to onset of winter? What suggestions do you have for winter fun?
the Jotter's Joint 
Like you, I like to be inside and warm and under a blanket reading, but unfortunately the world goes on
I know. If only it would stop for just a little while so we could enjoy the white beauty without trampling through it. Wishful thinking! Keep warm in your corner of the world.
No commuting issues for me living a 15-minute walk from the office. My way of defying winter is to run in shorts whatever the weather – to the point of mentalness sometime 🙂
Okay … Wow. You are brave. I guess we all have our -isms. Running I shorts year round would definitely show winter who’s boss. Impressive.
Loved this! I’ve been at my job for 12 years too (sitting at my desk in between jobs right now), and just had to reply. I missed having the white Christmas, but hubby was happy. Makes his plumbing job a whole lot easier if he doesn’t have to dig pipes out of frozen, snow-covered ground. But being from a very snowy area, he still loves it. I do too, to be honest, except for the icy roads. Now, if there were a way to keep it all on the fields and none on the roads – oh, what a happy camper I’d be!!! 😆
I’m with you. Clear roads and white fields would make snow better. Oh and if we could do something about the cold of it too. Thanks for reading, LG!
It’s summer here at the moment and I’m looking forward to winter – but I know once it comes I’ll be looking forward to summer again 😉
I love the picture.
Thanks Dianne. And you’re right. It’s fun the first time it snows but it only takes a few days before I’m over it, Enjoy your summer.
I feel you on this right now…”Then it becomes the guest who’s overstayed his welcome. Glaring at me. Moving in and settling down without concern.”
Today, on my 1.5 mile walk home after a long day at work and a Yoga class, I struggled to see the snow’s inner beauty. I slipped, I slid, I cursed with each moody gust of icy wind.
I think it’s about time for me to kick the bitch out.
Thanks Britt. Yes, evicted. I slipped and slid but was in my car. NOT good. One more day before I can just stay in for a couple.
A good book sounds perfect, you’re right! But I do like the snow and cold- I love walks with the family and my dog (provided that there’s a warm beverage at the end!). Stay warm!
Right now all I want is the good book and hot beverage. But maybe a snowball fight this weekend. 🙂
Great picture of winter in MI. I spend it as close to the fireplace as I can get.
Fireplace is the best place to be. It’s cold. 5 degrees out there today.