I’m Not Ready for Winter
Posted on 24. Nov, 2008 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Inspirations, Outdoors
I’m not ready for winter.
We recently woke up to our first real snowfall, which meant we had to blow our football-field length driveway.
I was all excited about it at first, it being the first snowfall and all.
“Ooh! Let’s blow the driveway! It’ll be fun! I’m so excited!”
As soon as I watched Cameron struggle to push the snowblower through the first few few feet of heavy, wet snow, it hit me:
“Oh, right. Winter. Winter means hard work.”
Funny how I managed to forget that over the summer.
I’m not ready for winter.
I say that I’m not ready for winter, but, in reality, maybe I am ready for winter because it’s already here.
I am a big believer in taking things one step at a time.
In the summer, if you’d flashed me a picture of the barren white landscape that is winter, I might have covered my eyes and run for the hills. The change would be too sudden. Too stark.
When the grasses are lush and the birds are chirping, the thought of the depths of winter is too mind-blowing.
How could such beautiful greenery turn into such bleakness?
But the change happens slowly.
First the trees turn, then they lose a few needles, and the grass slowly browns. And your wardrobe slowly changes from t-shirt…to sweater….to coat…to jacket.
And then one day you wake up to a sprinkling of snow and you dig around for your parka.
A few days later, you find last year’s scarf and throw it on before you head out the door.
And before you know it you’re bundled from head to toe in winter gear.
Everything happens in tiny increments.
It’s a lot like life.
One day you’re eighteen. And then you have a birthday. And then you live a little. And you eat and sleep and work and dream. And then you have another birthday. And the you live a little more. And then another birthday. And then another. And suddenly, you’re far away from eighteen.
It just kind of happens. I guess that’s nature. And life. And the way it is.
And that’s okay. But sometimes it’s a good idea to stop and take note:
“Hey, I’m putting on a sweater. That must mean winter’s coming. But wait, I’m not ready! What did I want to do this summer? Did I do it? Did I appreciate summer? Is there still time? I better get started.”
warren
Nov 24th, 2008
This is right on the money. I am not ready for winter yet either (though you have it worse than I). I have so many things left to do including digging some post holes. Not likely to happen now that the ground is frozen. I was just thinking (as my birthday is 9 days away!) that the late 30s are sneaking up on me as well. I can’t decide if I am ready for that or not. I don’t think I want to change demographics but it is only a bit away. Anyhow, I think I need to keep on plugging away. The little details of life make me appreciate the process…when I take time to see them!
Vicki
Nov 25th, 2008
Cam where did summer go? Seems like you were just shovelling!
mom Marjorie
Nov 25th, 2008
I don’t like the thought of all those heavy ’snowblower’vibrations going through Cam’s body for the next months and months and months until there is no snow left late next spring. What about leaving the car parked at the end of the driveway ? … Ok, ok, I know there are negative aspects to that… But still, I wish there was a better solution than this heavy heavy heavy slogging. Anyway, Cam, I’m sending you lots of love, and ‘bon courage’, as Gilles would say.
Aunt Krissy
Nov 25th, 2008
I had to laugh when I read mom Marjorie’s comment. I used a snow blower for a few years that vibrated so bad that the handle would vibrate right off the machine! I then would have to dig in the snow for the nuts and screws to put it back together! got tired of that and then paid kids to shovel!
Andy Collier
Nov 25th, 2008
We are not ready for winter either, we haven’t got near enough wood cut, meaning we will have to rely on back up heat more than we’d want to, the outside stucco needs some final touch-ups, the gutters and metal fascias still haven’t been installed, and neither of our cars have their snow tires on yet!
Sandy
Nov 25th, 2008
I am so with you on this one, Laura! I am not psychologically ready for this season. I have all of the warm gear out and stuff, but it is the daily listening to weather forecasts to know if we need to leave the car at the end of the driveway, the planning ahead, the long, cold walk to the school bus, etc… I often think about homeschooling during the winter! Hibernating seems like such a nice option. I haven’t been anywhere since leaving Whim Road on Sunday and it suits me just fine. In the summer I would be going stir crazy by now.
christy
Nov 25th, 2008
i bet you cant wait until you have a tractor with a snow blade on it!!!!!!!!!! i couldnt imagine using a snowblower for a drive that long.
Vicki
Nov 26th, 2008
Maybe next year you can get a blade for your 4 x 4?
LJ
Nov 26th, 2008
I’m not ready for winter either. That’s why I live on the left coast. But I will proudly sit back in the comfort of living room and watch YOU two deal with the white stuff in vast quantities for the next 6-8 months.
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 27th, 2008
Yes, a tractor is in the five-year plan!! Not that we have a five-year plan. At all. But we want a tractor!! Just an old one from the 50s or 60s would be grand.
Cam’s sitting right here. I just said, “What’s your dream tractor?”
“Ideally, we’d want a tractor with a Perkins three cylinder diesel engine.”
Um. Yes. What he said. According to me, anything that pushes snow fast would be good. :)
mom Marjorie
Nov 27th, 2008
yes, as mom Vicki says; what about a blade for your 4 x4 . How much do they cost, versus the cost of gas and oil for your snowblower? (Oh I hope I’m not making you feel impatient to acquire ‘bigger’ material goods faster than the pace that you have set for yourselves….)
Naomi
Dec 5th, 2008
I’m entertained by mom Marjorie’s 1st post above. I feel like I know her or something.