As the mass of snow that we had piled up is finally melting, I find myself thinking and dreaming more and more of warm weather and the joys that come with it.
Oh Cruel Winter… Sigh…
I hate being cold. It’s not that I hate the winter – I love how pretty snow and frost looks, and I love Christmas. What I detest is always feeling like I’m not quite warm enough. Alright, I also loathe the short days that winters give us. There are no winter smells because your nose is so stuffed up from getting a cold or the flu. The streets are silent but for the scraping of shovels and graders against sidewalks and roads – not the most desirable sound. The cold whip of the wind against you, chilling you to the bone, as you hurry from car or bus to the closest shelter is a constant reminder as to how desolate the winter can be. Le sigh.
Sunny and Sprinkling Spring…
How can you hate warmth, the feel of cool rain on your cheeks and hair, and the light scent of dewdrops on grass after a spring rainfall? I dislike how muddy the beginning of spring is, but I don’t hate it. I enjoy stomping on the last pieces of ice grasping for life on the edges of melting sidewalks, even if it means you get splashed by the occasional puddle. I love the sweet flowery aroma of blooming buds and the harmonic notes that the rain plays against the windows. I crave the thunderstorm musicals as they trumpet across the sky, inviting me to experience every BOOM and CRACK that they offer. And, as the birds make their way back from their long journey, you can hear the songs they sing both of joy and of seduction for each other.
The Spicy Scorching Summer…
Heat! Heat! Heat! Hot sunshine that bathes you until your skin browns and your hair glows! The only thing I dislike is sunburns, but they always fade into nice tans and after a short time stop stinging – so no harm done. I love the feeling of being so hot that you’re dripping in sweat that you stand in front of a fan and have the cool breezes wash over your skin. I take pleasure in stepping in a shower to wash off the sweat and opening a cold beer – because only that can cool you down properly. And the odd day in a heat wave where a cool breeze passes lazily through the air you feel as though mother earth herself is cooling her sweltering body. The smells of summer are not as sweet as the smells of spring, but you get the sharp breath of freshly cut grass every few days, the repugnant stink of hot tar from road-workers, the force of the forest scents you inhale as you take a walk through the paths, the cool smell of rich pipe tobacco, and the There seems to be a constant stream of oratory gab – children laughing and shouting, outdoor workers calling orders to each other, friends chatting, running shoes steadily thumping against the paths and sidewalks, bicycle bells ringing in alert, and parents calling their kids in for meals or snacks. You can hear sprinklers begging the grass to grow greener, the crack of a beer or a pop opening to quench a dry tongue, and the constant chattering of wild animals. The summer is ALIVE.
But alas – a few more cool days await us as winter comes to an end. I shall patiently wait them out and dream of warmer weather.
Cheers,
Tess
