Wednesday, December 24, 2008

LETITSNOWLETITSNOWLETITSNOW...


To those of you who guessed the Pacific Northwest you are right!

So I'm presently going back over those winter scenes that I wrote in Hawaii.
There are some things that are better to experience first hand.
Your breath condensing on the inside of your scarf making your face wet.
How cold starts from your thighs and migrates to your butt and how when you come inside your butt stays cold much longer.
Of course that might be a function of fat.
Hard to tell.
But other things.
Like hills. How hard it is to walk through deep snow.
Like the sharp smell of evergreen. The smell of the cold. The feel of frigid air in my nose.
The sounds of ripping chains against the slushy pavement and crackling wood fire in the insert.
Lots of things.
Like no matter how many pairs of socks you put on it isn't enough.
My tan lines are fading.
Help me...
Send sun.

14 comments:

Sandra Cormier said...

Merry Christmas to you, Pat! I wish you health, happiness, horsies and prosperity in 2009 and beyond!

The Anti-Wife said...

Be grateful it's finally warm enough to rain and hopefully wash this crap away!

Merry Christmas!

Kanani said...

Hi, I spoke to my friend in Everett. His car is under snow, and he's been in for 9 days! A record! He could dig out, but he says he's quite content inside!

Bookfool said...

Merry Christmas, Pat!

The PNW is very blue.

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Hi Patricia, I just came over from Sarah Laurence blog. Your snow photo, particularly the details you mentioned in your list prose made me remember the feeling of cold---first hand-ish is close enough! I'm acclimated to the warmth of the tropics- (though I was born in Michigan). I don't think I miss it.

Robin Lemke said...

Looks familiar! The snow covered rhodies and pine trees could be my backyard. I couldn't believe it snowed all day again!

Don't forget the feel of sliding side to side when you tap the breaks on your way into the driveway either. :)

BClark said...

That is a white Christmas to the max. Balmy breezes will take on more meaning now. Sometimes I have gotten so cold I have to take a hot bath or shower to thaw out. We left FL 10 years ago, but don't think I have gotten used to the cold yet.

Wishing you a Happy New Year

Kim Rossi Stagliano said...

We had an au pair from S. Africa several years ago. I woke her up the first snow we got (we lived in Cleveland at the time, it might have been a September day...) and I still can see her face when the first snowflakes touched her skin! We had a white Christmas in CT. It's always lovely. I'm not sure I could live without four seasons. Well, I could live without summer. Merry Christmas, Patricia.

Holly Kennedy said...

Suck it up, buttercup. A lil snow and cold won't kill you. AND you'll completely appreciate Hawaii when you get home.

Merry Christmas!

Janet said...

My knees get cold first. They're above my boots and socks, below my coat, and have little natural padding. ;o)

The real thing helps, for sure. A Texan writer I know had snow drifting, then freezing into place. Not. Breaks the laws of physics. If it's wet, it won't drift. If it's dry, it won't freeze into place.

Enjoy the experience while you can. I myself am so happy to be back in the snow and in buildings that actually stay warm...

laughingwolf said...

season's blessings to you and yours, pat :)

Michelle O'Neil said...

That weather must be quite a shock to your system!

Hope you are staying warm!

Chris Eldin said...

LOL @ your cold butt descriptions! YAY!
:-)

I LOVE snow on evergreens. There's nothing lovlier, in my opinion...
:-) Merry Christmas!

laughingwolf said...

happy new year to you and yours, pat :D