An ode to winter

Christmas lights are put away, and the sounds of New Year's revelry have faded as Minnesotans gaze out windows at white lawns and trees bent from the weight of snow.  Once again I recognize that the bleakest months of the season are yet ahead of us: the rest of January, and all of February, and March. Only with reluctance does winter relinquish its grip to springtime breezes sometime in April, and I've seen it snow in Minnesota even then or later.

Fresh flowers seized upon during grocery shopping at the local supermarket brighten my home and long walks down climate-controlled, carpeted hallways in my apartment building keep me somewhat fit. Visiting with neighbors I encounter during my walks counts as social interaction as do phone calls to much loved friends hundreds of miles away. Having family and friends over for dinner on occasion provides much needed energy boosts. Repartee with Facebook friends also gives me a lift.

And at the moment, I'm preparing my submission to the VA creative writing contest - I'm entering a short, short story. It's about the folly of a senior citizen climbing a stepladder to replace a chirping battery in a smoke detector. Chirping smoke detector batteries can drive you nuts. In the meantime, I'll enjoy anticipating the results from my entry.

In the midst of all my whining about Minnesota winters, I remind myself that my apartment is warm and cozy, and I have a safe car to drive to obtain food and other necessities. When conditions are too bad, I can order groceries online to be delivered within a few hours.

Plus, there's nothing quite like getting into comfy nightclothes on a cold winter evening and curling up in a favorite chair with a good book while sipping a cup of chamomile tea.