Frankie Valli, the hotel chain, condoms (look it up, you will be amazed). With the exception of the condom company that I only discovered this morning, these are things that come to mind when the four seasons are mentioned if you were born before 1980. For everyone living in our beautiful country and regardless of age, it also means a change in weather patterns, daylight savings time and shedding or adding layers as required. It is now officially autumn and I find myself wanting to hold on to summer just a little bit longer. Thankfully the weather is cooperating but we all know it is inevitable: soon the snow will come and it will be time to hibernate.
I don’t know about the rest of you but I had a terrific summer. I worked hard and played hard, spent loads of time with friends and family, won some medals, read loads of books, spoiled my girls, travelled and generally had a great time. The complete lack of blog entries is a symptom of all the fun I was having and the carefree days I spent with my kids (with the exception of money issues which are the nemesis of every woman on maternity leave). I won’t lie to you; it was the summer I have always wanted. It would have been a dream summer if we were in a cottage by the lake and hubby was there with us, but beggars can’t be choosers. I also put aside my thinking cap for a couple of months and just embraced life. The noises in my head were somewhat muffled and I didn’t hear the incessant chatter or feel the need to plan everything. I was more spontaneous and relaxed and I loved every minute of it.
There are definitely some things I learned from this approach to life that I will carry forward but I find myself slowly and reluctantly being drawn by the siren call of winter. I have a love/hate relationship with winter. I hate being cold, driving on icy roads and wearing socks but I love the crisp clean air, brilliant sunshine, fireside chats and the crunch of snow underfoot (Bailey’s and coffee gets an honorable mention). What I find most attractive is the permission to become a hermit for a few months until I get cabin fever and start thinking The Young and the Restless is actually a reality tv show. This is the time of year I become melancholy and introspective and, oddly enough, it is also a time when I have historically experienced the most dramatic life changes. I look forward to starting new things to ease the heavy burden that comes with the cold and the darkness. Music lessons, workout videos, new classes and hot yoga are all winter undertakings for me. Eventually I will start craving the sound of baby birds and the smell of fresh grass and then before I know it, summer will be here and I will be able to rekindle my love for flip-flops.
My own life is so tied to these crazy seasons that I often wonder if I would go insane without them. Do you realize that the closer you live to the equator, the less change there is in the environment? Can you imagine the sun rising and setting at the same time 365 days a year? Temperature only fluctuating by 10 degrees, rain or shine? I don’t know if I could handle the “sameness” of it all. I love my seasons. I love it that my life cycle is tied into them. It gives me comfort and reminds me to be patient (yes, I am still working on that one) when I get anxious for a new phase in my life. This weekend I will pull out the winter boots, get ski suits for the kids and maybe a new jacket for me since mine is ancient, bring down the hat and glove box and take some time to say good-bye to a beautiful summer while welcoming the clean slate that winter brings. I am excited and apprehensive but mostly, I’m just thrilled to be here.
