In Defense of Winter
01-01-09

Winter in Kansas is cold. It is not a surprise. If you live here, you know it is coming. Complaining about it won’t change it or hurry it along. Accept it and try to find the beauty in it. Spring will come in it’s own time. But first there must be the killing cold of the winter months. Without it there will not be rebirth.

Everyone welcomes the un-seasonal temperatures we have had like 64 degrees the day after Christmas. It was so warm our bees were out scouting around. But the warm temperatures are usually followed by the seriously un-welcome precipitation in the form of freezing rain. Like we had the very next day! That is not normal and causes problems we are not prepared to deal with. If the temperatures were seasonably COLD we would get snow, which is normal, and which we are equipped to deal with.

SNOW SNOW SNOW
That white and wonderful stuff!
It is good for the earth and it is good for the soul.

Our parents and grandparents talk of winters with lots and lots of snow. Feet of it! From November through March! They all have wild stories of walking on top of the crusted snow along the TOPS of the fenceposts. And we can’t forget that trip over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving dinner in a sleigh!

Kids love snow. It’s a fact that kids playing in the snow are tough. They can withstand temperatures and conditions that are just too much for grownups to handle. Snow gets packed into the tops of their gloves and their boots making red frozen rings around their wrists and ankles. Their clothes get wet clear to their skin and their cheeks get rosy and raw. They don’t care. They want to build the biggest snow fort, throw one more snow ball, roll up the fattest snowman, and make yet another snow angel before going inside.

When I hear that a jubilant wide receiver who makes a snow angel in the endzone after scoring a touchdown gets socked with a huge fine, I have to ask "What is the problem with that?!"

Winter

Tree silhouettes against an icy blue horizon
Snow flakes drifting by frosty window panes
Ice covered creeks standing still
Snow laden cedars protecting small creatures
Raptors soaring in search of food

Crackling fires sustaining life
Comfort foods to satisfy
Steaming mugs to warm
Heavy quilts made with skilled hands

Candles flicker and glow
Quiet times of reflection
Dying time before rebirth

Peaceful time of darkness
Refueling of my soul

Winter

Cynthia Allen-Linck
January 18, 2004