The joy of the cold and the dark (some thoughts)
December 11 2010, 11:00 PM
If you live in a warm or mild climate, you have never had the chance to
experience the joy of the cold and the dark. You will not likely have
appreciated a roaring fireplace or even an empty oil barrel incinerating
blocks of wood. You won't know the comfort of flannel pajamas, or the
happiness from pulling blankets up to or even over your head on cold drafty
nights. Never mind just how wonderful a hot chocolate can be, not just on
the tongue, but as it warms up your core and your hands. There are many
pleasures associated with the cold and the dark. When I was younger I learned to appreciate and respect the cold and the
dark. A short mild walk could become hazardous and painful if a winter
storm whipped up, but we were kids and the fun was in defying nature and so
we would play in crazy weather would under sodium lights, the night an
eerie yellow and the snow swirling around us like a sea. Or we would be
watering ice rinks, enduring as much as possible for the benefit of a
smooth skating surface. It may seem terrible, but the hardship of the cold
and the dark was also what made it good. It made us appreciate what we had
normally, made us fonder of the light and the warmth that awaited us
indoors. I had taken it almost for granted until I went to university, and then I
would see new students from other countries delighted and excited to
experience their first snowfall, and I would recall my own joy from the
times when I was younger and I would appreciate it all over again. When looking to buy a house, I searched for one with a fireplace. I wanted
to be able to walk through late evening snow (dry and crisp underfoot) and
come inside and watch the fire while the drifts pile up and the ploughs
scrape down dark streets. And when the fire burns down to embers, I wanted
to turn all the lights out and look out the frost glazed windows, admiring
the sparkling luminosity of winter as it buries, until finally I would
grow too tired, before retreating to my (own bed of) layers of flannel and
down and fine cotton, where I could attend to my nightly hiberation. Which
is what I am doing now as I type this. Thanks for reading this. Enjoy your winter nights for all the beauty and
comfort and joy they can bring. -----------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Handheld.
experience the joy of the cold and the dark. You will not likely have
appreciated a roaring fireplace or even an empty oil barrel incinerating
blocks of wood. You won't know the comfort of flannel pajamas, or the
happiness from pulling blankets up to or even over your head on cold drafty
nights. Never mind just how wonderful a hot chocolate can be, not just on
the tongue, but as it warms up your core and your hands. There are many
pleasures associated with the cold and the dark. When I was younger I learned to appreciate and respect the cold and the
dark. A short mild walk could become hazardous and painful if a winter
storm whipped up, but we were kids and the fun was in defying nature and so
we would play in crazy weather would under sodium lights, the night an
eerie yellow and the snow swirling around us like a sea. Or we would be
watering ice rinks, enduring as much as possible for the benefit of a
smooth skating surface. It may seem terrible, but the hardship of the cold
and the dark was also what made it good. It made us appreciate what we had
normally, made us fonder of the light and the warmth that awaited us
indoors. I had taken it almost for granted until I went to university, and then I
would see new students from other countries delighted and excited to
experience their first snowfall, and I would recall my own joy from the
times when I was younger and I would appreciate it all over again. When looking to buy a house, I searched for one with a fireplace. I wanted
to be able to walk through late evening snow (dry and crisp underfoot) and
come inside and watch the fire while the drifts pile up and the ploughs
scrape down dark streets. And when the fire burns down to embers, I wanted
to turn all the lights out and look out the frost glazed windows, admiring
the sparkling luminosity of winter as it buries, until finally I would
grow too tired, before retreating to my (own bed of) layers of flannel and
down and fine cotton, where I could attend to my nightly hiberation. Which
is what I am doing now as I type this. Thanks for reading this. Enjoy your winter nights for all the beauty and
comfort and joy they can bring. -----------------
Sent from my BlackBerry Handheld.
568 views and 2 responses
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Dec 12 2010, 7:05 AMJoanne MacDonald responded:Nicely written.
How well I remember those days!
And let's not forget blowing through heavy, wet woolen mittens, weighed down and encrusted with snow & ice, in a vain attempt to thaw red, raw, frozen fingers inside!
Thankfully, nowadays we have more weather-impervious materials to gird ourselves in when we have to go out and brave the harsh elements! -
Dec 12 2010, 9:07 PMBernie Michalik responded:Thanks, Joanne! I think we take for granted the improvements in winter gear, because you are right: it was easy to get wet and cold and frostbite them.