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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Sliding Softly into Winter

It is with some distress that I report to you that I was forced to pull out the fuzzy loungewear the other day.

You know the stuff:  the cuddly warm material that looks really crappy after about a dozen washings?

Yeah.

Helpful Hint from Pearl:  If you don’t spill anything on them, and you don’t wear them whilst doing any actual work, you won’t have to wash those things for years.

But there I was, wasn’t I?  The temperature was dippin’, my joy at having discovered the bin where I’d hidden my winter clothes was slippin’, and suddenly, I was overcome.

Six months.  Six months of layered clothing, of an increasing desire that all foodstuffs be covered with gravy, six months of dreadfully poor beach weather.

I had to sit down.

What’s that?  Oh, I hear ya.  Having been here in the Great State of Minnesota for now, what, two, maybe three hundred years, you’d think I’d have picked up and moved by now.

But seriously.  If I did, what would I complain about?

And believe me, there will be complaining.  There are, after all, leaves to rake and driveways to shovel.  There are windows to scrape and sidewalks to “sand”. 

There are parties with food and drink and a hundred boots at the door.  There are laughingly bitter walks to pubs, pies to bake and kitchen to heat afterward with the oven’s open door. 

There are cashmere sweaters and friends that hold your hands to warm you.

There are hot baths to take and plumped-up, winter-ready kitties to lie on your head, purring in the dark.

The seasons are changing, people.  And it’s not bad.


It’s just different.

30 comments:

Shelly said...

We've heard of winter down here from time to time, but I'd always assumed it was one of those storied myths, like Atlantis, or the Fountain of Youth.

You sayin' winter really exists?

Indigo Roth said...

You are wise beyond your years, youngster.

raydenzel1 said...

it is getting colder here too. soon it will be to cold to use the pool. sigh...

ellen abbott said...

Oh yeah, winter. When the weather finally gets good enough to go outside. Winter, when I can water the flower beds without sweating as much water from my head as comes out of the hose.

Anonymous said...

It's just that it's so looooooong.

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

Oh, we get it here in Ohio, too - six months of perma-gloom.
*Le sigh*

Robbie Grey said...

As a six month-or greater-winter dweller myself, I can empathize. Though, on the subject of different seasons, I recently heard a zinger I'm thinking of adopting as a mantra;

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing..."

Launna said...

It's a good way to look at it Pearl... it will give me more reason to curl up in my bed....

jenny_o said...

Well, one of our kitties is plumped up and winter-ready ... I'd better get working on the rest.

You're an optimistic little gal, aren't ya!

Joanne Noragon said...

I jokingly told my grandson Minnesota is north of us, that's why it's so cold. I'll be paying for that with flannel sheets this weekend. My cat doesn't sleep with me.

Moving with Mitchell said...

Oh, how I love winter in Minnesota... when I'm not there. I look forward to reading your stories and dreaming about cashmere sweaters and fuzzy pajamas from my chaise lounge on the beach. I promise to drink a toast to from under my sun-brella during every Minnesota snow storm.

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
HAH! This actually made me start looking forward to winter in Scotland. You crazy woman you...

YAM xx

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

You people in Minnesota are downright serious about winter. Here, we just toy with it every now and then before returning to balmier temperatures. But even though it's been hidden under our house, rusting away for the past forty plus years, we will NOT get rid of our snow shovel. (Ya never know...)

Great attitude. There are lots of things to love about winter. As long as it doesn't involve shoveling a mountain of snow.

Chatty Crone said...

I want to see a picture of you in those PJ's!

Elephant's Child said...

Plumped up kitties purring in the dark make any season good.

Douglas said...

Sorry. I can't get into winter where it actually gets below 60 more than a few times in 6 months. The worst was Manassas, VA, where they thought they had mild winters. Not to me... 15 degrees and waiting for the pipes to freeze is not my idea of pleasant.

Watson said...

I'm ready! Predictions are for us to have a cold, possibly snowy winter. I've dusted and WD40'd my snow shovel just in case.

Anonymous said...

Hi Pearl, I am with you. I don't really mind winter like I used to. I feel like the years just fly by so quickly now that I might as well enjoy every moment. I'm looking forward to the first log fire of the season, the first pot of homemade cocoa, sliding in the park. So many good things.

Gigi said...

It actually got cool enough today to make me stop and realize that winter is on it's way. Dammit!

Now where ARE my warm pjs?

klahanie said...

Ah and then it will be the season to be jolly after the season to be silly.

Good thing it's still unseasonably warm in England. My heating system has broke. No heat, no hot water and the neighbours are giving me even funnier looks than normal...

Hi from Leek, the town named after an onion.

Gary :)

Connie said...

I'm not ready for the cold to arrive yet, but then I never am. I complain about it a lot too. The best part of it is looking forward to spring--haha! :D

Unknown said...

Winter is Maine is similar!

sage said...

uh, no skis to wax?

Rose L said...

WINTER??!!! We haven't enjoyed fall yet here in Oregon!

River said...

Six months is too long to be covering things in gravy. I've just washed and folded away half the blankets I've had on the couch since Easter.

Tempo said...

Yeah well...after today I'd gladly swap back with you Pearl. Hot nasty winds so strong it sent roofing sheets flying and the doors of the workshop had to be left closed lest they fly off and over the fence. High 30's (I cant convert that for you as my dog MAX ate part of the page in my conversion book) but winds over 30knots... swap with me pearl...pretty please.

Linda O'Connell said...

My daughter was just stranded in the North Dakota blizzard. No thanks. You can keep winter.

Suldog said...

I hope you'll take this as the tremendous compliment I intend it to be: You are the Erma Bombeck of the 21st century.

(Feel free to use that as a blurb on your next book. I ask only for a free autographed copy...)

Perpetua said...

I'm already layering here in Wales and it never gets as cold as Minnesota. Hope winter holds off for a while for you.

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

You could definitely move here. And bring your complaints with you!