The Winter of life....

I used to dislike Winter... The days grow shorter... Frigidness sets in.. Bones creak... A slower pace.. Even the bugs hide..

Winter is remembering the past.. the times at the lake... the creek.. the pond... the ocean..

Running, jumping, throwing... while distant, fondly etched in the back of the brain... In memory - it causes smiles.. Spring, Summer, Fall... the fast pace.. sweat.. thirst.. laughter.. the vibrancy...

In the Winter of life.. our curtains remain open... allowing the light of memories to sneak in.. We see worries in the rear view mirror, and grin at how we'd woefully experienced them - admonished ourselves.. but in Winter, it all works out in the wash.

First place, the blue ribbon, the tassel, the resume', the interview, the years and years of 8 to 5.. the quest to climb ladders.. childrearing... cars bought, sold.. multi-level houses - all, behind us. It won't be like Ground Hog's Day.. we can't go Back to the Future.. We are in the now.. No, we cannot re-do, but we can certainly, and very happily, re-live.

A time of enjoyment. A time of remembrance.. Appreciation.. We watch the youth take over, and find comfort in the fact they're damn nice, and that they take the time to talk, visit with us - and it makes one think "gosh, I hope I was like that.. maybe our future IS in good hands."

Winter is seeing a friend struggle, all the while appreciating the fact they are still on this side of the green, green grass. We close our eyes and think of those who never got the chance at Winter - how unfair that is... along with "you just never know." So in the now, here, today, Winter - minutes, days, hours - while we can no longer keep up the pace - we video tape everything with our eyes, so as not to miss anything, 'cause you just never know.

Winter's worries are unlike previous season worries.. Sping, Summer, Fall - we spent many a day in fast forward - not allowing enough time in the day to sit back, watch, love, smile. We'd bemoan the 60 mph car on the 65 mph highway. We'd gripe at the fast food window and think "COME ON!"... We hated lines.. anywhere. Now the only lines we hate are at the urinal, ha.

Being in the Winter line - we get to suck it all up. Notate/appreciate, observe the diversity. Diversity in size, age, color, gender, hair, no hair, tats, no tats, nice dress, not so nice dress, money, not so much money, happy, in a hurry, the griping at the fact every minute seems like three.

Now, we get the advantage of watching, reflecting, smiling, enjoying, appreciating the fact every minute seems like three. We'd been there, done that, it's different now.

Familiar faces allow us re-entry, briefly, into Spring, Summer, Fall. There's nothing better than seeing the guy that caught your pitch, helped you study biology, sat his/her lunch tray down next to yours.. shared memories of the Moon Landing.. John John saluting.. remembering the disgrace (in general) paid to those lucky enough to return from Viet Nam.

Winter is remembering broken relationships, how hurt you were, or how much you hurt them - knowing now, it's all now very assuredly water under the bridge. We can now co-exist. Share grandkid's birthday parties. heck, even befriend the new mate. Animosity slips, fades in the Winter of life. All this (Spring, Summer, Fall) damn time fretting over racial tension, gender treatment inequity, boss, manager, worker, different ideas - and now, peace now has set in. We love, all. We have no hatrid. We get along. We 'get it'.

We stay up as late as the body allows us.. 'cause ya just never know. We get up as early as we can (or not!) to be thankful for the opportunity of doing this Winter bit allover again for another day...

A Winter's day.. in a deep and dark, December.. No Paul, no Art. We're changing the lyrics. Friendships don't cause pain. We don't build walls.. fortresses. We do not disdain laughter and loving. We don't hide in room. We touch as many as we can, and hope for reciprocation.

We are, for sure, slower. But we're the rock now. Our time. Our day. To share, hopefully, with those from Spring, Summer, Fall, and of course, our Winter buddies. Economics may not allow us to all be snowbirds - but warmth has taken over our brain, our thoughts.

I now really really like Winter. 'Cause ya just never now.

Love, Victurd