I am trying not to hate winter just yet, because there’s still six weeks left of it and that would mean a pretty extended stretch of winter-hating. And winter-hating is emotionally and physically gruelling.
But I am not liking minus twenty-nine degrees and I am tired of all the crap that keeps falling out of the sky. I am sick of winter clothes and dry skin and yucky produce and trying to plan my runs around the sidewalk conditions.
I’m not depressed, but I feel that if I were to open the door even just a little bit to the possibility of depression, it would come flooding in and just take right over and make itself at home. So I’m not opening THAT door.
I’m going to try not to hate winter until at least March 15th. The Ides of March.
But I don’t suppose it would hurt to start looking forward to Spring, would it? That’s not the same as hating winter, is it? (Why do I always capitalize Spring and Fall but not winter and summer?)
Here are some of the things I’m looking forward to:
Crocuses
Canada Geese
Melting snow
The first day the sun feels warm on my face
Buds on the trees
Spring jackets
Taking pictures without the battery indicator flashing
Running on the bike paths again
I know I’m missing something….
TAGS:
I’m looking forward to apple blossoms and the smell of wet earth.
night air so mild you don’t need a jacket
I am so with you on the ‘tired of the crap falling’feeling. Toronto is just as bad… like, come on weather gods give us a break. There isn’t even anywhere to pile the snow we’re shovelling anymore…
I agree with you about wanting better sidewalks/running options. I’m wanting to train a bit more myself and I’m certainly not doing it in the snow. It takes a lot of self-discipline for me to get out extra.
But I like winter.
One of the things I’m most looking forward too.. strappy shoes!!! I’m tired of having my feetsies bundled up in multiple pairs of socks and boots! The ground hogs said spring is coming and groundhogs never lie….
I need longer daylight hours!
I know what you mean. I’m ready for spring any day now. And Dirtwitch…I too love the smell of wet earth especially on a hot summer day.
“(Why do I always capitalize Spring and Fall but not winter and summer?)”
Maybe because spring and fall can mean other things, while winter and summer can’t?
I am loving your blog, BTW!
I can’t wait until I’m able to get out the door quickly. No boots, layers, coats, mitts, hats, final application of protective lip goo, sweeping the snow off the car, waiting for the car to heat up, and THEN go. I just want to go.
J.
I’m with Jo – just to take the trash out last night, I had to suit up like I was scaling Everest.
I just want to be planting my garden – and I know that I’m not even going to see dirt until mid to late April.
And I just looked out the window – it’s snowing AGAIN!
Crap.
Maybe you should come out to the lake, Zoom. Winter here is beautiful, so beautiful that I am not looking forward to muddy puppy paws.
Crocuses. I’m looking forward to crocuses. Although we haven’t had any snow here in New Jersey, we have had inches and inches of cold, cold rain. The kind that gets into your collar and just chills you to the bone. I want some real sun. And daylight.
This year, my first in Ottawa, I’m not minding winter so much because I know in a few weeks, lovely spring will arrive. Winter in Halifax was hell — not so cold and hardly any snow but wet, wet, wet and windy and dark and all we had to look forward to was more wet, wind and marginally less chilly temperatures until about July when it would warm up a tad more, but still be wet and windy and dark. Also, it’s so exciting to see the mornings lightening up a bit more each week. And I went skating on the canal for the first time in my life last weekend. It was fun. Really, I’m rather enjoying winter.
Oh the yearning – you put perfectly into words my reluctance to starting hating, to start getting depressed this early. I can’t wait to eat my first meal on our back deck…
Canada geese – hahahahha – they are not well liked around these parts (Indiana). I like ’em fine, though, and in the past month have witnessed several V’s flying north, then south, then north, and last night south again. Our weather has been schizoid, to say the least…. I’m looking forward to mornings when I can roll out of bed, pull on a pair of shorts and sandals, and walk the dog with coffee in hand.
Oh yes, sitting on the patio! Bare legs! Open windows! And let’s not forget the bike. There comes a time in the Winter when I suddenly feel like a Sherpa, lugging groceries every damned day on my back. The bike is freedom.
Mmmm. Yummy. Warm earth. Bare feet. Bare legs. No jackets. Strappy shoes. More daylight. Being able to just step outside without arming yourself against the elements first! Gardening! Real sun! Eating on the deck! Sandals! Open windows! Bikes!
Yes!!!
Gillian – welcome back! Oma – I’m glad you’re still loving it. XUP, you too! Abby, where are you from that they don’t love Canada Geese?? Margery – you’re absolutely right about why I capitalize Spring and Fall.
I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. The geese migrate through here, gathering in huge poopy flocks at every pond and golf course and high school football field available. A few stick around all summer, hatching babies, or at least trying to. Where I work there is a pond that attracts a few breeding pairs, which in turn has resulted in some human-goose run-ins. The local Goostapo’s solution is to coat the eggs with oil so they won’t hatch, a cruel practice in my opinion. Personally, I prefer the company of geese over people. Does that qualify me as a hermit?
I don’t want to be one of those people who are always bellyaching about the weather but yesterday’s storm was too damn much! 10 inches of snow followed by freezing rain. 12 hours without electricity. What can you do by candlelight? The low light and the flickering and all the various fragrances add up to a dilly of a headache. Yeah, so bring on the Spring. The crocus and the snowdrop and the daffodil and the sweet, sweet sound of birds singing can’t come too soon for me.
Winter Forever…
Tired of cold weather and dry skin here…….