21st Blog: What IThought I Knew About Winter

What I thought I knew:  As Robert Lewis Stevenson would say: "In winter, I get up at night and dress by yellow candlelight...." I'll finish the poem when I write about summer. Since I have grown up in the age of incandescent bulbs, I have never dressed by candlelight. I'll stop there, as this will be about light instead of winter. I recall winter in the San Fernando Valley as being mild, with the Santa Ana winds whispering and pulling your hair around to keep things interesting. Sometimes the temperature when I was going to school was in the 50's. So cold, I had to wear a coat; the coat was carried over my arm by the afternoon. Winter was divided from summer by swimming pool availability and the many months of attending school. There were no visible seasons in the greenery around our house, except when the ash trees changed colors and finally dropped their leaves. No raking needed, and of course, dichondra lawns do not "die" over the winter months.

We occasionally visited winter from our home in the San Fernando Valley. We would drive into the surrounding mountains for a youth group outing to the snow. Wrapped in inadequate clothing, we made snowmen and threw icy snowballs, finally driving home while wet, steaming up the car windows. There was no warm specialized polyester fabrics and we had only knitted or crappy borrowed gloves to keep our hands warm, but not dry.  Winter in southern California meant that going to the beach involved flying kites and looking for sea shells, plentiful after storms. Cold waves forced us to wear shoes and coats to the edge of the water; hiking continues where the winter is mild.

After moving to Salt Lake City, I learned about winter in person. Gifts of hand-me-down jackets and gloves and hats were eventually replaced by my first down jacket. It was deep blue on the outside and had a paisley lining in cotton. I loved wearing such a fine jacket, the lining drawing comments from others with ordinary coats. Long underwear was purchased, but still cotton, with silk and wool being the fancy fabrics of the time. The mountains to the east of Salt Lake are astonishing; Mount Olympus and it's regal rock patterns are stunning when covered in snow. It snowed regularly there, and why not at 4500 feet above sea level? I learned to shovel, an endeavor that I continue to enjoy in Idaho. I like the satisfaction of seeing my work completed.

Utah is well known for it's powder and ski resorts. I learned to ski, taking group lessons and using rentals. Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Park City and Brighton were all within 45 minutes of my house. The roads must have been icy and snowy, but I don't remember that as being a problem. What I did learn, is that snow silences the surrounding noises and actually seems warmer than just a cold day. As a teen in Salt Lake, I was able to sled from the hill above our house to the street corner our house defined. Last time I was there, the hill was covered in new construction; the scrub oak and dirt trails were more inviting.

Boise is what I know about winter. As I am writing this, it is very cold (low 20's to low 30's) but dry; the latest that the local ski resort has ever opened. Fortunately, there is a winter storm warning for later in the week. Two days later as I write in the afternoon, the storm has covered Boise in 4-5 inches of heavy snow (as measured on my driveway.) I have shoveled a few times, just to keep it from getting icy. I learned about shoveling ice in Salt Lake City, and don't wish to meet that particular challenge again. I keep my driveway, the sidewalk in front, the path for the postman and part of the easement to the park mostly cleared. Today, I shoveled my neighbor's driveway and walkway too.

Winter snow storms bring the irresistible joys of playing in snow. It makes my daughter's white German Shepard appear yellow, and watch out where he goes! My children grew up sledding and playing in the Boise snow; making snowmen in the park behind us and riding snowmobiles with our friends "up at Vern's" in Placerville. What I know about winter and look forward to is skiing. I have new skis this year, a gorgeous pair of purple/zebra striped fat soft boards that hug the hill and make turning in powder sublime. Everyone should have a chance to experience the sublime in every season. I guess I have three more seasons to consider extending my thoughts to the keyboard.

Winter also means that the Big Dipper is harder to find from my house and drying clothes on hangers takes place indoors. During cold days, my second cup of coffee is reheated in the microwave instead of poured over ice. Other facts about winter: It's possible to set off bottle rockets without worrying about fires too much but impossible to keep your floors clean. Wool or polyester socks are warmer than cotton socks and 67 degrees in the house is cold during the winter and warm during the summer. I have learned to sweep the accumulated snow from the bottom of my car prior to driving into the garage and to carry a shovel, down jacket, spare gloves and a hat and blanket in my car. Last year, I ended up sideways in a friends front yard after a similar storm and now I have snow tires. Winter driving involves going slow (but not in first gear) and learning how your car responds close to home so you know what will happen when you get out into traffic.  Snow tires and chains and weight in the back of your truck also contribute to being safe; it's the other drivers (idiots driving too fast or tailgating) you need to look out for.

What I know about winter and enjoy the most is that it ends; the small birds bring this news ridiculously early in the spring. They seem unaffected by the cold weather, searching my trees for nesting material and something to eat. I am also hungry in winter, nesting in my house in sweat pants, warm socks and considering making cookies or biscuits or shortcake. Like the birds, I also consume nuts and berries to stay healthy. I continue to work out in a studio that is too cold at 55 degrees when I arrive and too warm at 59 degrees when I depart. The cold of winter is better for sweating; cooling down is easier than during summer. Winter is no reason to stay inside and become one with the couch. There are plenty of new fabrics and specialty clothing to keep you warm and dry and outside; so - go outside and play!