January-itis

      Looking out our kitchen window early this morning,
I fondly remembered 'Sunny California' of a couple of weeks ago.  As I have 'muttered' a few times on this blog, Winter is hardly my favorite season.

    I have some understanding of the importance of Winter in the rhythm of life.  News articles this week reminded us that the populations of insects, pests, and other annoying 'critters' likely have been reduced by the recent 'Arctic Vortex'. Great! I am pleased for whatever benefits might occur.

     Recently, I re-read Parker Palmer's Let Your Life Speak and noted that he extolled the many benefits of Winter . . . both on the calendar and within one's Inner Life.  And, I remember the basic point of the song, The Rose…"far beneath the bitter snow lies the seed that with the sun's love in the Spring becomes the Rose."  Still, I feel more drawn to a line from a Shel Silverstein poem: "Must we always have Winter; Can't Springtime just stay?"

      My aversion to cold is directly related to the scene in the above photograph . . . the Marsh Chapel Plaza at Boston University. In the background is the Charles River that seemed to provide a wind tunnel right off the Atlantic Ocean. Though this particular snapshot was made some years after the academic year of 1960-61, it is a sight that I came to know well that year. My dorm room was on the top floor of the building on the left (just out of the picture). I remember snows from early December through until March . . .at least that's 'my version'. At any rate, my Southern thermostat never adapted to the rigors of New England. My brother in New Hampshire has braved 40+ Winters there.  Now that he has retired, he is heading for warmer climes in the Far East for a few weeks's respite.

     Where I live, temperatures earlier this week were single digit with wind chill factors below zero. Gratefully, there was no accompanying precipitation.
Recently I read the quip that 'if you wear flip-flops and mud boots in the same week, you must be from
North Carolina'.  Today, the projected temperature is mid-60's with possible thunderstorms. Just a few minutes ago, the tornado warning elapsed.  But then, I remember, this month was named for Janus, Rome's 'two-faced' god.

    A hopeful aphorism: "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"  Well, it will be good to see the lilies in bloom.

In the background, however, I hear my dad's gentle reminder: 
           "Don't wish your time away, son".

      Satchel