January

January is here, no fooling. Not the January that's all about making resolutions, starting the year fresh, and all that. The January that is all about cold and snow, hunkering down and trying to stay warm. That January.

We were supposed to get just a couple inches total, maybe as much as three. But when I woke up this morning it looked like we'd already gotten about five, and it went on snowing all day.

Someone at work, who's nearing retirement, mentioned to my "class" of new hires that as she's gotten older, she's come to feel that "snow" and "cold" are four-letter words. I don't feel that way. I still really enjoy this weather. Everything looks pretty with a coating of white.

But despite new sleds, new boots, warm coats, and all the rest of it, the boos tend to want to stay indoors when it's cold and snowy. And then we end up with too much of this:

which makes me sad. Staring at a screen instead of looking at the real world. I do understand that at this time of year there is a natural tendency to burrow under the covers (or in front of a television set) and not get much of anything accomplished. But we can do better than this. Tomorrow we're going to try to go outside for a while, even though it'll only be 15 degrees. Afterwards we can come in and burrow.

Tonight I wandered back to the office and before turning on a light, I looked out the window. I saw something moving in the church parking lot beyond our back fence, and suddenly realized it was (at least) two deer. I ran for my camera, but they were gone. I went out in the backyard, hoping to spot them again, but it was quiet.

I looked up into the cold dark trees, wondering if our squirrels are safe and warm, if the winter birds have found a resting place.

Not everything that goes to sleep in late fall wakes up in the spring. Stay warm, everyone, and take care.