Well, there's a great deal to report which I cannot report because of its sensitive nature. (Not to worry: it's all good--I think.)
So what can I report? Hmmm, yes, uh, the weather. Basically (like a lot of other places) we're having a bit of an old-fashioned winter, Canadian style. This week the temperature rarely went above freezing and every day or so there'd be a dusting of snow, keeping it nice and white. Yesterday I was talking to a woman (who happens to have run a ski school for 24 years, so you could argue she was a little biased) about how having cold weather when you're supposed to have cold weather gives one a sense of normalcy as in, "God is in Heaven and all is right with the world." We also talked about how each season has its benefits and time was people in Toronto didn't make such a big freakin' deal out of it every time it snowed. Part of this, we agreed, is that the media in general tends to dramatize news events more than they used to, and that includes the weather.
We also talked about how children's view of snow, and the cold generally, is the opposite to that of adults. They see magic where we see annoyance. "The world has turned white!" It never failed to thrill me as a kid when I'd look out the window in the morning and see snow. I also remember a morning when I was about 11 and I was about to head out on my paper route when the thermometer on the back porch showed -20F. My reaction was not, "Oh no!" but "Cool!" Everything was an adventure: "How can I overcome this adversity? Dress warmer..." and "isn't that interesting, the way the snow crunches differently and my frozen breath hangs out there so long?"
Nowadays I try, in tiny ways, to look at things again with childlikeness (as distinct from childishness, I hope). I went to deposit a cheque (check) the night before last and knew it was cold. Living downtown, where you walk to do most business, I knew I'd be out there "in it". So I picked out a parka, gloves, and toque (stocking cap)and set out. It was fun. Cold, yes, but also Christmasy, with the lights and the snow, and because I was prepared for it the cold didn't bother at all.
Okay--this hasn't been the most thrilling piece of prose this time around, but what you gonna do? Time now to face the music, i.e., my "To Do" list, and get cracking.
So what can I report? Hmmm, yes, uh, the weather. Basically (like a lot of other places) we're having a bit of an old-fashioned winter, Canadian style. This week the temperature rarely went above freezing and every day or so there'd be a dusting of snow, keeping it nice and white. Yesterday I was talking to a woman (who happens to have run a ski school for 24 years, so you could argue she was a little biased) about how having cold weather when you're supposed to have cold weather gives one a sense of normalcy as in, "God is in Heaven and all is right with the world." We also talked about how each season has its benefits and time was people in Toronto didn't make such a big freakin' deal out of it every time it snowed. Part of this, we agreed, is that the media in general tends to dramatize news events more than they used to, and that includes the weather.
We also talked about how children's view of snow, and the cold generally, is the opposite to that of adults. They see magic where we see annoyance. "The world has turned white!" It never failed to thrill me as a kid when I'd look out the window in the morning and see snow. I also remember a morning when I was about 11 and I was about to head out on my paper route when the thermometer on the back porch showed -20F. My reaction was not, "Oh no!" but "Cool!" Everything was an adventure: "How can I overcome this adversity? Dress warmer..." and "isn't that interesting, the way the snow crunches differently and my frozen breath hangs out there so long?"
Nowadays I try, in tiny ways, to look at things again with childlikeness (as distinct from childishness, I hope). I went to deposit a cheque (check) the night before last and knew it was cold. Living downtown, where you walk to do most business, I knew I'd be out there "in it". So I picked out a parka, gloves, and toque (stocking cap)and set out. It was fun. Cold, yes, but also Christmasy, with the lights and the snow, and because I was prepared for it the cold didn't bother at all.
Okay--this hasn't been the most thrilling piece of prose this time around, but what you gonna do? Time now to face the music, i.e., my "To Do" list, and get cracking.
posted by Ted | 5:02 AM
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