December 4, 2024
I’m not certain, but I think that
we are living in an area that may exhibit some unusual meteorological anomalies.
Or, in the words of our daughter, “we’re in a weather bubble”.
The only other weather bubble
that I have experienced firsthand is San Francisco. I don’t recall the details,
but we were instructed that, even though we were going there for the first time,
and in the midst of summer, we should pack a sweater of three, as that city rarely
gets hot.
They were right. The city of
Haite-Ashbury and zig-zag streets was on the chilly side during the entire week
of our one and only visit.
Where we are situated on the Ontario
map is north of Lake Erie and west of Lake Ontario.
When the winds come from the
west and create lake effect snow, we appear to miss out on that little thing. This
fact doesn’t break my heart one bit. That’s not to say we won’t get more than the
skiff of snow we currently have on the ground outside. I am well aware that we
can and will this winter likely be up to our tushies in the white stuff at some
point.
But not right now. And not for
most of today, at least—if the weather network online can be trusted.
As I write this, that skiff of
snow is almost completely hiding the debris on the ground that used to hang on
the neighbors’ trees. We were not successful in marshaling the troops to get the
second deluge of leaves raked and bagged this fall. That will now have to be
job one come the spring—or sooner, if the snow melts as it has in past years,
and we get a few days grace during which we can get folks here to do the work
then.
It does sadden me that we can
no longer do that ourselves. I used to enjoy yard work in general, and especially
in autumn when there might be a slight nip in the air, turning my cheeks pink.
I never minded raking, grass cutting, and garden tending. I loved spending time
outside, and in my younger days would, in spring and summer, often sit outside
to read, when time permitted.
Though I have lately not been
as quick to spend time in the great outdoors, I’ll still occasionally do so, often
with my lap blanket. No sense in courting unnecessary discomfort from drafts on
impaired joints.
While we don’t have much snow
it has been below freezing these last few days. No question of having the
furnace on now, and so far, knock on wood, it continues to work well. Of
course, it is a rental, which means we don’t have to worry about any looming
expense if it needs repairs. Sometimes it’s just a good idea to anticipate
possible challenges, and arrange things so they won’t be a factor.
It's the first week in
December, which means we’re approaching Christmas, and the end of the year. I
just barely got used to writing 2024 and now, in a few short weeks, I’ll have
to get used to writing 2025. Talk about time seeming to speed by.
Believe it or not, I have
bought all the “gifts” that we need to give already. Yes, I know that’s
shocking and not at all indicative of my usual last-minute shopping habit. Gifts
bought, it’s just a matter of stuffing a few dollars into a few Christmas cards,
and we’ll be done. Then there’s the matter a smattering of decorations, and, of
course, our tree.
You may recall that the tree
we’re using these days is on the small side, about four and a half feet tall.
When we purchased it, we also purchased several mini decorations to put on it.
I’ve grown accustomed to this tree and can even say that I like it.
As well, this year we have our
Christmas candle to light, on Christmas Eve. Not certain yet how when or how we’ll
do it, but I am looking forward to reestablishing a family tradition that had
slipped by the wayside.
Traditions are like the wisps
of something ethereal that allow us to visit, if only in our minds, the joys of
Yuletides past. And those visits, as insubstantial as they may be, can be as necessary to the human spirit
as food for the body.
Love,
Morgan
http://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
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