About a year ago I wrote a post about the month of February. I wasn’t very kind to February in that post.
This time of year in New England tends to be dark and gray often. You don’t see many people just strolling around outside unless they’re dressed in 18 layers, looking chilled to the bone.
The sounds of children swinging and climbing monkey bars at playgrounds, baseball bats connecting with baseballs and lawn sprinklers turning on are still weeks away.
This winter, especially, the sounds of snow blowers, snow plows and driveways getting shoveled have been most common.
And yet, I’m not feeling that same February funk I felt last year for some reason. In fact, as I look outside my window as I type this, the snow alternating between gently falling and whipping wildly, I feel the beauty and necessity of February more than anything.
In 8 short weeks it will be the beginning of April. The grass will be green, not white with snow. The sounds of snow blowers will be replaced by lawn mowers. Neighbors will linger outside to chat when they see each other, rather than give a quick wave as they run to the warmth of their houses.
8 short weeks.
8 weeks ago I took a trip up to North Conway, NH with my family, including Audrey and her boys… and it just doesn’t seem like that long ago.
And now, just 8 more weeks until the sounds and sights of Spring.
So I will be content on this snowy February day, and look at it as part of the glorious, wonderful, mysterious cycle of life.
Come to think of it, it also doesn’t seem like that long ago that I wrote that post last February. And yet, 12 whole months have gone by.
Time, like the flakes of snow now gusting toward my window, has a way of flying, doesn’t it?
I do okay with February. It’s March that I hate (and oftentimes April). By then it seems like it should be getting warm. I think I’d be a lot happier if I moved about 400 miles south! 🙂
Time really does fly. I couldn’t believe it this morning to find that it was snowing again, but you’re right, there’s something nice about it all. And 8 weeks doesn’t really sound like a long time I guess… 🙂
You are right about time flying …
Time does pass so quickly. I feel like we just celebrated the new year of 2008 and now we are beginning another. I have to say, 2008 was a tough year for our family so I was glad to see it go and I can’t wait for spring!
I have always like February… as a sort-of quiet time after the hustle of the holidays, but before the break-out of spring. Maybe it’s a New England thing… a time to nest and read and think…
Strangely, I have been feeling the same way. To say I hate winter is an understatement. I turn blue as soon as the thermometer drops below 55, however, for whatever reason, this winter has seemed more tolerable. I think it may be the amount of snow we’ve received here in Philadelphia (snow is much prettier than brown grass and the monochromatic layer of salt from the salt trucks that seems to coat the entire winter landscape). Besides, when you are slipping and sliding all over the roads late at night during a snowstorm, as I was last night, you are much more appreciative of life when you actually make it home in one piece! 😉 And yes, as you said, just 8 more weeks. Just eight more weeks…