Flowers of ice

Lovely, but not my favorite flowers

I looked in my large collection of pictures for something to start out this late January post with. This was taken almost a decade ago, when I went on a hike up to the lookout where we could see Samish Bay on a very cold, wintry day a few years ago. I am still capable to hiking to this area, but since I am no longer going out with the Trailblazers, I think there would be little reason for me to see this scene again: instead, I'll wait for warmer weather and head on up there at least a few more times before I no longer can.

Every year brings another reminder that there is no way to stop the passage of time, even if I wanted to. So much has happened to me, and to the world, since I snapped this frosty scene seveb years ago. Right now, today, most of the United States is enduring a very cold, frosty winter storm, complete with freezing ice and plenty of snow. We are spared from that scenario here in the Pacific Northwest, but we are still having below-normal temperatures every night. I still go out onto the front porch to do my exercises in the dark, and it still is "warm" enough (relatively speaking) for me to take off my socks and attempt the five exercises with freezing toes. Since I know I will be spending only ten minutes or so out there, and soon will be able to warm up properly again, it has to be well below freezing before I do them indoors. It might not be the equivalent of a polar bear plunge, but I think it makes me a little stronger. And I am still able to brave the cold and allow myself to feel a little virtuous.

This morning I awake to another day of below normal temps, but I feel very fortunate to be here, as I read about all the terrible awful conditions elsewhere, and my heart is breaking for the latest shooting incident in Minneapolis. The videos are clear that the young man was not trying to kill anyone, but he did have a concealed weapon, even if he had a license to carry it, I believe it might have contributed to his killing. But, that said, I have very little understanding of why it happened.

I spent last night trying to keep those awful images out of my mind so I could get some sleep, but I wasn't very successful. I know it doesn't help anything, but I don't seem to be able to train myself to look away. I am just glad we don't have masked vigilantes roaming our cities here in Washington State, and I hope it stays that way, but I have very little hope that we will again be a nation of law and order any time soon. I am so sad and despairing as I read and watch the news. I know, I know: it doesn't help anything and only hurts me to keep on staying current with these terrible events. So, here goes an attempt to change the subject as it roils around in my head.

Today I am hopeful that John will start up his magic carpet known as his truck and transport me to Fairhaven for a wonderful breakfast. It is very cold out there, but it's nothing compared to what the entire Midwest and East Coast have in store for the next few days. I do hope that we get through this without any lives lost. I sometimes wonder how the wildlife copes when it's so cold, but they seem to know what to do better than those of us who live indoors. I remember years ago in Colorado helping to make an igloo, and we managed to spend an uncomfortable night inside it. I didn't realize that, as we tried to sleep, the walls would gradually collapse from the heat of our bodies and warm breath. I woke to the feeling of an icy wall no longer protecting me but falling into the interior. It was not the best night of sleep, but I did realize how I could improve it if I had to do it again. I didn't try to spend another night in such circumstances, though. Now all I have left of that experience are memories of discomfort and a desire to leave such adventures to the younger set.

And it won't be long now before I can leave my headlamp behind, as we are gaining plenty of light every single day as we move towards the vernal equinox on March 20 this year. That is less than a month away, and from that day our nights will be shorter than our days, and the leaves will bud out and the flowers spring out of the ground. The entire Northern Hemisphere of our planet will wake up to another cycle of green and mild temperatures. And here in the Pacific Northwest we will be greeted once again by our old friend, the rain. We won't have to worry about freezing rain by then, not for another year at least. 

Well, I wasn't able to find much to be happy about, but I know that will change as the days pass. I am always happy to wake up feeling moderately content, as I stick my head out from under the covers and start my day in earnest. And I've got my constellation of blogs to read that you all wrote recently. I love finding out how others are coping as well. I hope that you will share some of your tricks with me, letting me know that I am not alone. Until we meet again next week, dear friends, I wish you all good things. Be well.