Fortunately, I am not talking about the same winter that causes such foreboding in one of my favourite television series, Game of Thrones. Here, in the real world, there may be misery — horrid, dangerous driving conditions — and rare beauty — a cityscape magically hushed by a fluffy blanket of white snow. But to the best of my knowledge, there will be no cannibal zombies or whatever those dreaded creatures are massing beyond the great ice wall in Thrones.
Winter can provide beauty and danger.
No, it may be unusually cold or unusually mild. Unusually long or unusually short. Unusually wet or unusually dry. But for the most part it should be a good, old-fashioned winter, a time of challenge and reward.
As we enter the month of Christmas here in Ottawa, we sit on the verge, with winter about to start at any minute. There have been some brave attempts. Faint flakes swirling about but never really staying. Early mornings with everything brushed with rime, offering an artistic foreshadowing of the whiteness to come. But so far, nothing has stayed.
And when the skies are overcast and the would-be snow is falling as rain, the days can be wet and gloomy. And spirits, already battered by the early darkness, may be a bit low
But still we know. Winter is coming. And while we may dread, rather than outright fear, some of its harshest moments, we also look forward to the snow that makes it such a dramatically different month.
We always welcome the first real snow — must not melt for a night and a day — but in this area of the North, we prefer that it fall a mere few days ahead of time, so we can have mild, dry conditions while driving between stores to do our Christmas shopping, and still have our much-treasured White Christmas.
And yes, for the record, the best welcome given the first real snowfall is done by turning one’s face skyward, mouth wide open, tongue protruding, to capture the flakes, and taste the arrival of winter.
I’ve been doing this, and enjoying it immensely, since I was a toddler. These years I don’t always get out, but still try, and occasionally succeed, at fulfilling this tradition.
So, winter IS coming. Everyone stick out your tongue and say ”Aghh.”