Monday, December 8, 2008

One for the Ex Pats

This one goes out to our dear friends who turned tail and ran from this extraordinary piece of earth we call Toronto...

as you both are sitting around, dreaming of paris, sipping strawberry-mango juice, basking in the desert heat, here is a little piece of the free city, some memories of home to keep you through bedouin nights.

We finally had a real snowfall this past weekend. Not these light flurries/wet snow that still seem to frighten the sense out of drivers. No this was a real snowfall, with gently swaying to the ground and accumulating. This time the snow stayed on the ground, blankets of white swirling on the pavement and decorating the roofs. Winter did her long extended entrance to this season, a slow waltz that looked perfect.

Here is the part you won't miss.

-20 yesterday and Saturday with the windchill. howling winds, rattling tree branches on Saturday. Sharp winds the sting the face and parts of the body not adequately covered. Freezing nose hairs, Freezing facial hair and Freezing snot. Ice tip fingers and Ice tip toes. Long streams of steam with every breath and involuntarily creeping upwards of shoulders, clenching of jaws, tightening of muscles.

You don't miss that do you? Postcards are pretty, being in them maybe not so much.

However there are good things to the cold. It feels clean every time you breath. This season of death seems to wash things clean, erase them with bitter cold until renewal is the only option. Winter weather is lonely weather. This nights are longer, the sun turns its back on us earlier each day and comes out later each morning. It feels like a long season, moments outside are heavier, steps take longer, the outside world is a chore. A season of dying in itself lends to loneliness, sadness that longer nights can only bring, despair that cold weather can only bring. Now if you are without kin or kindred or have been during a winter you know what I am talking about. If however you blessed with love and companionship than winter can be a beautiful time that defies the dark charms of that icy lady. It is a time to get close, to huddle up and cuddle up. To unreservedly drink hot chocolates and teams, egg nogs and rum, ciders and spirits. It is a time to warm each other up, for thick blankets and cozy slippers. We parade in pajamas and long sleeves. Hot showers feel all the better during colder days and nights. Candles and soft lighting become la mode and hearty meals full of goodness and warmth are eagerly anticipated. You can go skating or just walk around outside (if dressed of course), throw snowballs, get frosty then come in after a day and look forward to getting warm.

The best part of winter however?

Rosy cheeks. Hands down. Girls look so pretty with rosy cheeks. Especially my girl. Rosy red cheeks make her a different sort of pretty that I love and love.

So while you sit there getting sand in your eyes and shoes, sweating in december, though we might grumble, the winter can still be a pretty pretty sight. As I write this, snow is falling again ever so softly, and it looks so fine. I'll take that all the time and I'll miss it if I ever go.

I was born in february after all.

peacelovefreedomjustice

-s

"this has been an extended weather report from the Free City."

No comments:

Post a Comment