It appears we have experienced what could be called a “proper” winter this year. We had record-setting snowfall and temperature drops, sleet, ice, and the Olympics. The month of March promises to be a last hurrah for Old Man (or should we call him Elderly?) Winter, and warmer climates are promised in the coming week after a brief period of uncertainty in which we may receive more sleet and snow before all rain possibly melts away the remnants of the two big storms we had in two months.
Unfortunately, I live on the wrong side of the block, with the sun casting shadows from behind our homes, so everybody on my side still has piles of leftover snow on the front lawns, while those on the other side are almost fully green except for a few leftover high white spots from shoveling. They’re the lucky ones. They can put winter behind them and start decorating for spring.
My driveway is still patchy with piles of what I needed to slide off my car to go to work. For a full month, after the blizzard at the end of January, I couldn’t even open my side door because of a mound of solid ice which had drifted into a permanent statue on the steps. My gate was frozen in place, and I couldn’t even reach the bird feeders and resorted to scattering seeds atop the ice for them.
I remember the famous blizzard of 1978, when it seemed like the last vestiges of that white stuff removal nightmare lingered into May. Parking lots in shopping centers still held corners piled high with condemned, compacted crystals blackened by car exhaust and sporting the occasional discarded paper cup.
Sometimes it really does seem that winter won’t throw in the towel at all. Until the first crocuses bloom, or the trees sport the first buds, and it’s possible to step out the front door without a sweater, and the heating bills don’t make you faint. For those of us who are not fond of coexisting with winter, these are the rewards of patience and perseverance.
For those of you unwilling to retire your skis to the closet for another season, may I suggest the South Pole?
Truly, I have had enough of the season. It’s time for daffodils and tulips and lots of greenery.
By the end of the week, I hope to have my front lawn back. If not, I will personally go out and shovel it away and into my back yard where the sun will make short work of it all. Let my neighbors look at me like I’ve gone senile. Perhaps I am nuts. Nuts for warm weather, bright colors and robins.
Winter, begone!
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