I Remember Summer

It's not the cold that gets me - it's not the snow or ice either. Someone wise who has since fallen into disgrace (a fate that may be as human an experience as death, and perhaps not all that different) once pointed out that Winter is just a matter of dressing properly. Bitter cold actually has certain advantages when taking the dogs out to do their business - no need to worry about where you step.

No, it's the gloom. Unrelenting winter gloom.

The sun shown brightly Sunday morning for a few hours - before that it had been nine days since it was not shrouded by clouds. By Noon it had already greyed-over, and would stay that way through the night, thus preventing any sighting of the Wolf Moon. I spent the afternoon watching football. I never spend the afternoon watching football. I became disillusioned with the sport after all the domestic violence, assault and other violent crimes came to light and, besides, American football is mostly violence and committee meetings. (Can a world in which the author of those words becomes aligned with liberal thought last long?) But somehow the idea of sitting under a blanket in a dark room watching thugs and buffoons beat themselves to a pulp seemed like a pleasant activity.

This morning there is something slightly brighter in the sky - I'm not entirely sure it's actually the sun yet, but it's an improvement. Autumn brings brilliant colors and crisp air, followed by Thanksgiving and the Holidays and there's so much going on. Then along comes January. By now, for a number of reasons, I haven't gotten out much with the cameras and my bank of photographic captures dwindles to images from months ago, but lurking within are treasures! Images green and warm and sundrenched - the humid dawn filtering over the horizon to the thriving plants on the patio, where there's a garden pool with a fountain and fat, singing birds dancing around feeders stuffed with good things to eat. And in just about three weeks, my friends, pitches and catchers report. The world will fill with play. Summer is coming.