6 Winter Thoughts

What I Thought of Winter, as a Tropical Soul

Photo by Clever Visuals on Unsplash

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

I live in a country where twelve to fourteen hours of sunshine is an everyday reality. People bask under palm trees all year. Beaches are blessed with warm water.

Snow was a dream.

Until I was 35, I had never seen snow. Often, winter scenes to me, come alive through postcard images and movie scenes. Winter is magic. Winter is majestic. Winter is fun. I thought.

When I finally experienced brief periods of winter, I realized that my thoughts on the season were off-target from what it was. Some of it might be laughable and stupid but pardon me, I was just a tropical gal who has never seen snow.

I thought there was no sun during winter.

Really. I thought this. Although I have seen winter scenes in movies and on the internet, I do not know why I had the notion that winter skies were always gray or white, never blue. Never yellow. I was surprised sunglasses can be used in winter. So when I experienced New England winter, I was pleasantly surprised that even with freezing air and piles of snow, the sky is blue and Mr. Sun is still around.

I thought winter was fashionable.

Fashion in this season was elegant. And flamboyant. With layers and layers of clothing. Scarves, gloves, tights, shawls, capes, hats, coats and stylish boots. The novelty of winter fashion is enough to make one feel deserving of snowy struts.

Alas. The layers and layers of clothing are one helluva work for this tropical girl. Being used to flip-flops and a t-shirt dress, it was all just too much. And boy, were the clothes heavy! I remember when I had to throw the trash, it took so much effort to put on layers of clothes just to walk a few steps outside the home.

I never thought about the duration of snow falling from the skies.

I always thought that snow falls sporadically. I did not think about, “What if the snow never stops?” The first time I saw snow, it was a magical feeling. I was mesmerized. After a few hours, I noticed the snow piling up by the frontage. I was handed a shovel.

The magic melted. The snow didn’t.

I thought snowflakes were bigger than they were.

I looked forward to seeing the intricate details of snowflakes that when they landed on the palm of my hand, would shine, brimming with crystal details. I realized you can only see them in certain conditions. I wore black winter clothes to see them. I used macro photography to capture their uniqueness. I learned to position myself to better see how no two crystallized elements are the same.

I thought of snowfall as falling confetti.

Gentle. A graceful descent of snowflakes connecting heaven and earth. Nature’s very own confetti. But snowfall can be harsh. Unlike confetti, it can be heavy and wet. Disruptive when accumulated. And clearing snowfall is way more stressful than clearing confetti.

I thought of playing all day in the snow.

Sort of like playing in the sand all day. I imagined snow angels like sand castles. Snowball fights like catching frisbee. Building a snowman like forming structures in the sand. Sledding like jet skiing. But I cannot. It was impossible for me to stay out in the snow as I could never stand the cold.

But for all that winter is, I am grateful to have experienced it. In its stillness, nature’s serene symphony unfolds. White-lace tapestry delicately adorns the earth. The skeletal branch silhouettes of trees still stand majestic. The cold air is just short of crystallizing. Snow descends gracefully encouraging life’s peaceful pause. Frozen lakes impose on me the meaning of rest.

I curl up like a cat at home. Getting myself some hot chocolate.

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This post is inspired by Beth Kempton’s Winter Writing Sanctuary.