Old man winter is coming. I stepped outside this evening and the wind told me so; the clouds gathering in the sky signified his approach as well. Though I often get quite depressed during the winter, I always anticipate his coming. He’s a tough bastard, old man winter, but he’s a good friend; as familiar as anything I know.
I was born in December and I know my first experience outside was one of snow, cold, and gray cloud cover. Old man winter kissed me on the forehead as I was brought into the world and welcomed me with open arms and a cold slap to the face. Despite the depression and gloomy feelings I often experience, winter holds some very familiar memories; memories of snow up to my little waist, snow days from school, Christmas, and tunneling through the huge piles of snow in my grandparents’ driveway.
This year, I have big plans for winter. I plan on continuing to commute to work on my bike twice a week and I almost have all the gear to do so. In addition to my winter commute, Friday morning mountain bike rides at Wheeler Farm are also in order. I also plan on picking up a pair of snow shoes for myself and taking my kids out into the snow white drift for their first experiences snowshoeing. I’d like to get my old snowboard into shape and haul that old board into the backcountry via snowshoe for some well-deserved powdery downhill. This year, rather than allowing him to pummel me again, I hope to offset the darkness of his coldness through the brightness of activity I remember from my youth. This year, I vow to make old man winter my partner again rather than allow him to continue on as my nemesis. This year, will be better.
