It’s snowing. Sideways.
I don’t like snow. I don’t like being cold. I also don’t like being a whiner.
I do remember the excitement…
I remember the excitement of snow as a child! Living on BC’s west coast, the norm is rain so snow was like a special surprise… with a shelf life. A few days without power was not nice but curling up under the blankets with a good book was payback enough.
Even as the mom of young children there was a certain excitement. Maybe it was vicarious, maybe it was the rarity of being the hero who introduced my children to the joys of snow forts and snow angels.
Then there was the town where snow was expected
Then came the stage where I lived in a town where snow was to be expected during winter. Downed trees blocking my driveway. 50 ft’ of shoveling only to watch as a snowplough filled up the street end of my driveway again. Tree limbs groaning under the weight of the white stuff before giving up the fight and diving into my lawn like a javelin. Thank goodness for the brother with the chainsaw.
Snow also meant tire chains. Not to be beaten, I worked at being the queen of speed putting those chains on my van. I’ll admit to a bit of smugness that time being one of the few passenger vehicles making the steep hill off the ferry because I was able to get one chain on a front tire in the tight confines of the vehicle deck.
Here I am whining again
Work. Snow meant work. Hard, grueling. repetitive work. And here I am whining again.
Is it a product of my age that brings out this curmudgeon in me?
I need to go pick up my grandson from school in an hour. Shortly I’ll pull my warm tights out of a drawer, get my snow pants and coat from the mud room, don thick socks and heavy boots and, with hood pulled close so I can do my zipper up to my nose, I’ll set out. You can laugh now as I tell you I’ll actually be driving because he has his cello with him today.
Curmudgeon! I’m a happy, optimistic person! Until it snows. Snow brings out the curmudgeon in me as well as the grump and the pessimist.
Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.
What plays with your mood?
Do you have ‘something’ that plays with your mood like a child plays with an on/off switch? Weather is the most obvious thing to me at the moment and you can figure out why that is. But maybe it’s the partner who often leaves the gas tank on the fumes; maybe it’s the pet who hounds you through the night only to bring a play toy when your feet finally touch the floor; maybe it’s the child who loves you but only keeps in touch when the bank account needs a top-up.
Please leave a Comment of some sort on this post so I don’t think I’m the only person in my world with a curmudgeon trigger!
WIND! I’ve never lived where it snows and, honestly, I haven’t been in snow in a long time (unless you count the white stuff I saw off the side of the highway as I passed it in California with my heat on and windows up). I also never lived in extreme weather until I moved to Arizona just this last year. I’m in transition and living with my mom in Northern Arizona and the wind rips through here just howling. It sandblasts my face! It’s not winter around here but WINDter. I’m not to happy about the wind. Talk to… Read more »
hahaha, Allison! I’ll admit I dislike the intense heat almost as much… but at least I can get out and about in it! The laughter is imagining a sandblasted face – very graphic!!
You can always vent here!!
I cannot even imagine dealing with that amount of snow!!
well…. until you have to! I’m sure you’d figure out a way and, if not, would light a roaring fire and stay indoors enjoying the quiet snow brings!
I think if I had to go out in snow and cold like that on a regular basis, I’d be curmudgeonly as well. I don’t mind a bit of snow on a holiday with some skiing and bubbles thrown in, but that’s a bit different. I’m getting far more curmudgeonly about our current lot of politicians and their horrendous actions and policies, but I’m not sure that’s just to do with me getting older.
Christine, I think politics is creating curmudgeons around the world – you have lots of company!
I mentioned the town I lived in where snow was the norm… I also had a hot tub there and that was lovely! until, in the dark, you heard a limb overheard start to creak from the weight of the snow!!! Late night hot tub in the snow with twinkle lights and a glass of wine…maybe I do miss that place just a weeeee bit! 🙂
As we’re in the midst of catastrophic bushfires and heatwaves I love your images of snow! It must be hard to deal with after a while and you can be as curmudgeonly as you like 🙂 . We also get snow at our house but compared to your falls, ours a minuscule drop in the ocean. Visiting from #mlstl
Debbie, we are so aware of Australia’s fire catastrophe and the dreadful outfall! We’ve also had a ton of rain here and I’ve said on numerous occasions I wish we could send it your way! Be safe!
The only snow I’ve ever seen in real life is a tiny mist of it in Amsterdam a few years back. I am always blown away by the photos like yours where it’s piled up on cars, or outdoor furniture. I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like to live with that much cold and inconvenience – I am in complete admiration of anyone who lives with it every Winter – so whine away, you have my sympathy (but it is pretty to look at!) Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on… Read more »
Thank goodness it’s pretty to look at, Leanne! it’s only redeeming feature – my mother used to say it should exist only on postcards! More for us overnight so even the schools are closed and several bus routes are cancelled! Maybe I could move to Australia!
You deserve a relaxing evening after clearing that much snow and picking up your grandson. #MLSTL
Fortunately that driveway is my past now, Natalie! But the snow is coming down hard out there again so I’m in, feet up for the evening for sure!
This post was so relatable I could have written it myself!.. except for the fact that I haven’t even managed to get myself excited about snow for my youngsters’ enjoyment (Papa will take you to make snow angels, dear), I’ve never lived in a “real” snow city (I’d rather not), and I’ve never put chains on a vehicle (I’ll do anything not to go out in that white stuff). I wonder if perhaps snow bringing out the curmudgeon in me is just genetic! Oh, and another one that really gets me going is washing dishes by hand. There’s no chore… Read more »
hahaha, darling daughter!! The snow part is genetic… the dishes part… must be your father’s genes as I love a sink full of hot water and a hand-knitted cotton washcloth! The toilet is yours, thanks for letting me know!