Lessons I've Learned from Winter

A Snowy Winter Sunrise from my Window

I grew up in Florida. Winter meant that we had to get out a credit card and scrape the frost off the windshield of our car. We bundled up like Eskimos when the temperature dropped below 30 degrees F. I used to beg my parents to be able to see snow for Christmas. I remember spending many of our Christmas vacations trying to head up to North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Canada to try and catch a glimpse of the frozen white fairy dust. It never really happened. Twice I was able to get a light dusting and it was magical but still I wanted to be able to make snowmen and igloos and snowangels!

 Well, then my EC and I moved to New England. It's now my 10th winter here and there are some things that experiencing a real winter has taught me.

- There is absolutely no substitute for a White Christmas.
- Hot chocolate and warm apple cider can only be really appreciated after a good long romp in the cold.
- Half the fun of playing in the snow is the falling.
- In New England you spend 6-7 months with cold and snow. You spend the other 5-6 months trying to get ready for it.
- Heating with wood warms you up twice - once when you chop it and then again when you burn it!
- There's nothing quite like a cozy fire on a cold snowy day.
- NEVER tick off someone who drives a plow. (not that I've done it but seriously these are the guys that you want to be friends with!)
- Keep the shovel close to the door.
- When waking on snow be careful where you step, you never know when you might sink in up to your hip!
- A small patch of ice can take down just about anybody so watch your step there too!
- The coldest and harshest things of life can also be the most beautiful.
- Snow really is like magic fairy dust for kids. It makes them light up in excitement.
- Kids have nothing on teachers when it comes to waiting anxiously to hear a snow day announcement.
- Sometimes no matter what you wish or how hard you work the snow keeps coming and all you can do is keep on shoveling.
- Be prepared for the worst and you won't have to worry. (or face the crowds at the stores of everyone else rushing at the last minute to stock up before the storm)
- There's something amazing about going to sleep and waking up with everything covered in white.
- There comes a point in time where you just have to stop looking at the thermometer because all in all it's just plain cold.
- You can listen to all the weather forecasts and updates you want but Mother Nature will still do as she pleases and surprise you.
- No matter how long, how cold, how deep the snow, spring eventually comes in all its glory. Then again before you know it, winter will be back again too :-)