Winter

      Winter is one of the those times of year that I have a love hate/relationship with. Every year as Fall comes to an end, I wait with anticipation for that first beautiful snow fall. And then, one day it finally happens and everything is so lovely. Snow is everywhere, the air is crisp and winter is fun. Then, as the months drag on and the temperature starts to plunge into the negative regions of January, Winter and I take a turn in our relationship. It's really all one sided. Winter seems to love me because I get tired of it and tell it to go away and it patiently continues on. The problem is that I get tired of the cold and the cold and generally the cold. I begin dreaming of the day when I can run out to the mailbox without dressing for the arctic. And then, just when I am about to tell Winter that I am done with him, he goes and does something to redeem himself. For example, yesterday I woke up to the most beautiful sight. Winter had snuck in and painted the world in its own unique pallet of whites and sparkles. The trees were adorned in millions of crystals and the sun was out to play. And my heart swells with the joy and beauty of it. And really, winter has a lot of redeeming qualities. Ice skating, sledding, ski lift rides, broom ball and strategically placed snow balls.  So, there you have it. Enjoy the snow.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
 ~John Steinbeck