THE ADVANTAGES OF A LONG BITTER WINTER

OK, I know most of you out there are up to your armpits with the winter blues. It was even getting to me a bit especially since we are in the middle of an ice storm right now.  However since I don't have a dependable grumpy gene, I decided to look for the positives of bitter cold, being house bound, outrageous heating fuel prices  and going flat out bonkers inside the confines of our homes. 

Though Arkansas has not had any sense of what most of you have gone through, it was a taste that surprisingly, I tired of quickly. My heart goes out to those of you for whom Winter has become a never ending foe that has kept the bread winners struggling to get to work, the kids out of school and the rest of us falling gracelessly on our duffs.  

Still, there really are positives to be found. 

  1.  You have to admit that fluffy white is prettier than stick brown trees and burned beige lawns. Snow covers everything indiscriminately and smooths out the world.  Winter's masquerade ball really has "pretty" firmly on its positive side. 

  2.  A recent check at my local dealer for the price of Propane made me clutch my chest and declare aloud to my long gone parents that I was "coming home." Scared everyone in the store and startled my parents whom I am sure were hoping for a bit more warning.  

When gasoline prices go up, we can try to curtail our driving. It is hard to curtail being warm. However we actually can adjust how we keep warm a bit and here comes the advantage.  You can break out those ugly sweaters  you keep meaning to donate, toss on a down vest and lower the thermostat.  Also a half hour on the stationary bike periodically really warms a person plus burning unwanted calories. Biking also helps with the restless crazies. No bike?? Jog in place.   

  3.  The simple fact of  being house bound, even considering higher fuel prices, is a money saver.   I no longer zip to the store for coffee only and check out with a cart full of impulse buys. My gas credit card this month was 1/5 of normal. What a nice surprise. My grocery store  spending was minuscule. I actually only bought groceries.  My trips have been less frequent and 'need' only inspired. I just balanced my check book and was pleasantly surprised. On a whole, actually better than break even after heating fuel was included. 

  4.  Shoveling snow?? Yes annoying to most  Weird I know but I kind of enjoy it once my shoulder has been tamed by pain killers.  Shoveling does burn calories and lets us indulge in comfort foods with out guilt. Being guilt free at the dinner table is a huge plus. 

  5.  It makes you realize as you walk around on the fresh snow in the early morning that your area (no matter where you live) is alive with creatures. So many tracks, most unrecognizable to me, make me realize, night time is a very active time for Nature. Wish I had one of those wildlife video cameras. 

  6.  For those of you who feed the birds in Winter, what an entertaining and rewarding sight the feeders are.  True there is squabbling, bullying and shoving at the feeders but it is like watching a smaller and more colorful  version of why we will probably never have world peace-- but will  survive. Even with the bigger birds being pushy, the scrappy little guys still eat and prosper. Gives one hope and a smile. 

  7. Being forced to spend more time indoors, makes one appreciate all the methods we have today for keeping in touch with family and friends. As long as the power holds, we are just phone call or a finger stroke away.   The need to reach out intensifies yet is easily satisfied. 

Ok, I was hoping to scrounge up ten reasons but will settle for 7.  Perhaps the ice storm plus all day sleet has weakened my resolve. Maybe you have some of your own pluses to share?? Think hard, it does help.   

I will leave you with something my Florida friend Sue sent me. If you actually enjoy crying and smiling at the same time, rather the same effect Winter has on us--click on the link. What a lovely cry it was.    The best soldier-dog reunion ever.