Open Letter To Winter

Dear Winter:

I was reading the newspaper today and the weather man indicated you are planning to stay around until sometime in April - perhaps I might even go so far as to say MID-April. It was written there, in black and white, for all to see.

I am asking you to PLEASE reconsider.

You should know that I very much like you, Winter.

Many a thing I admire in you:

-How you allow me to SEE my breath as I exhale - only in winter am I able to witness with my own eyes this life force inside me
-When the first frost forms lovingly on the grass, trees and remains of gardens
-The lightness of the first snowfall and how every year I am awestruck by the beauty of it.
-the hoar frost as it clings to the trees on a cold winter morning.
-the snow people young children make on our street
-the sound of your crunch beneath our feet as we walk
-the twinkle of house lights as darkness comes early
-the smell of hot cocoa as we snuggle on the couch

We prepared early for you this year. We ensured the yard was ready for your imminent arrival - we put away our summer things, and pulled out winter boots, coats, mittens and toques . Our cars we had readied with almighty snow tires. I promise! We aren't liars.

We did our due diligence Winter, you can't blame us.

We thought you might come for Thanksgiving in October, or maybe Remembrance Day in November. Right into December we waited with anticipation - peaking every morning thru the blinds to see if you had arrived.

Alas, we waited in vain...Fall hung on with every last bit of might and muscle it had. Right into the middle of December it held you at bay.

But, finally one day your tendrils of soft snowflakes arrived and we yelled "Hooray!"and "Who wants Christmas without any snow anyway!"

Soon after you arrived you let us know with a vengeance that you were here to stay...you hurled temperatures of -35 with wind chills of -45 and 50 our way!!!

We bundled up, plugged in our cars and cranked the thermostat all in effort to ease your cold ways. On in to January, February and March you have remained, not relenting one teensy, tiny bit. Quite often you are kind and offer a reprieve - this isn't Calgary after all, no Chinooks blow through here! Not this year, you had something diffent in store for us.

Now April approaches and we yearn for the bloom of lilies and crocuses!

Yet, still your grip is tight - we know you will miss us Winter, we will miss you too!! But it has been so long since we saw our old friends Spring and Summer and the time is near.

So, please reconsider the length of your stay....like a house guest with no departure date, we wish you would leave. We don't mean to be rude or push you out the door, but the time has come for you to just go!

Please don't be mad or leave in a huff, for you see it will only be 7 or so months, before we once again see your pretty white stuff!

Sincerely,

The residents of Saskatchewan

*Edited to add - I am NO poet it and I know it :) Humour me people...I tried!