Tuesday, January 30, 2007

How Long is Long


This harsh winter weather is every bit as wearying as any stretch of Houston's unbearable summer heat. The cold, though, unlike the heat which might induce you to gather friends around a pool for margaritas and guacamole, is not conducive to social interactions, it least not to this still thin blooded Texan. I know why bears hibernate. I'd like to stay in my warm bed under the covers, until, say, June. At least the school bus finally made it up our road today and I didn't have to repeat my slapstick dash to scrape ice from the windshield while trying to maintain my balance on 2 inches of ice slick as a mirror. And then I think of those pioneer women who might have trekked across the very stretch of ground I've become somewhat adept at skating on (two hard falls on the same piece of anatomy being an adequate motivator to add that skill to my repertoire), toting infants and small children across the continent without central heat, a 24 hr. pharmacy or wipies. Holing up for winter in some frontier town, waiting months to hear news of family and friends. I heard their voices in the rustling of the 25 mph winds in the trees last night, " ........" actually, I can't repeat what I heard--a kid could read this. Suffice it to say I heard mention of the internet, GoreTex, combustible engines, electricity and lattes. Oh, and I think I caught the word "guacamole."

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Be strong little pioneer -- the Spring will make it all worthwhile.

Anonymous said...

Until then, make hot cocoa from scratch, throw a fire log in the fireplace and read, read, read.

Anonymous said...

btw, that's your best photograph yet.

Amy C. Moreno said...

B-r-r-r-rrrrr. I feel your pain. COming from Texas to the cold of Missouri is pretty harsh. How'd you make it in Boston? Remember how the car locks would freeze up, and the roads would be covered in snow at times?
Hopefully it will warm up soon. In the meantime, stay warm and cozy with your family, books, writing, art, etc.
and...ice skating IS fun. You'd do well at it.

Anonymous said...

Laurie,
That's basically what the voices said...with a few expletives.

Karen,
How many times do I have to tell you THE FIREPLACE IS NOT A REAL ONE!!! Are you trying to kill me?

Amy,
That's one reason I left! (among others you are aware of :) I remember those puffy down coats we wore, mine was red and went to my ankles. I looked like Red Riding Hood on helium. And it snowed again today! I finished War and Peace this afternoon, maybe tonight I'll reread The Magic Mountain, Moby Dick or Don Quixote.

jenni said...

I agree - that photograph is stunning.