Senior Scribes
How long is winter?
By Sharon Hopper

This has already been the longest year I can ever remember and it is only January. The 18th of January to be specific. Already we have had more snow that has kept us housebound than in many a year. We have had a rainstorm that closed our road for two days. And we have had the coldest temperatures in a century and there seems to be no relief according to the forecast. My electric meter has been spinning for days and I am very thankful for that and my pipes have not frozen so I am doubly thankful for that. But I have a little tiny problem.

I live in this house with one man, three cats, and a dog, all of which have tested my patience past my comfort zone. And to make matters worse I had to have my closest friend of 14 years put down because she had a stroke and the vet was ever so kind to help her into doggie heaven. Had I known life was going to be so lonely I would have kept our home in Florida for this rainy day. I have come to hate winter. When I lived in Florida the sun was bright most days and the flowers bloomed all year long. One could always walk outside and get in a game of golf or go fishing. And the mental outlook was always brighter and one never felt pinned down because of the weather. However, one had to be ready the opposite side of the spectrum. Heat. I guess the only perfect place is Heaven and right now I am looking forward to that journey. Funny thing about all this is that in a couple months all this will change and this miserable winter will just become a memory. Isn’t it wonderful that things always change, so with patience I will wait for spring.

Sharon Hopper