It's a cliche because it's true: Old folks are all shocked at how quickly they got old.
Some of it is great, though. Time speeds by so fast that I don't mind winter any more. Instead of the long, cold, dark slog of my youth, it's now just a refreshing cool down from one summer to the next. It's beautiful, glittery, iridescent as a pearl and it smells good. As I type, I'm watching a couple of dozen skaters on the rink across the street. I love it!
Back a thousand years ago, when we lived in Montana and our kids were tiny, I used to have my morning coffee while watching the sun come up over the butte east of town. Our house was perched on a hill and I had a breath taking view over the rooftops of town to the horizon. As the sun crept up, the snow covered roofs of town would turn rose gold and the smoke rising from chimneys would glow. It was pretty enough to make getting up worth it.
Having a view of the sunset is way better. Reflected off the ice rink is too pretty for words.
Last week, Jay and I went to Arizona for a few days. I'd never been. The desert and the mountains were very pretty. The weather was perfect: 40s at night, high 60s during the day. Sunshine as far as the eye could see! We were there for the funeral of my sister in law, Maureen.
Maureen battled pancreatic cancer for two years. She gave it her all, just like everything else in her life and died surrounded by her large family. I call that a win.
Most of that branch of the family moved to AZ a few decades back so we don't see them as often as we used to. It was great fun to be able to spend a couple of days hanging out with them. It was great fun to spend a few days hanging out with those siblings who live here!
Our niece Julie took us sight seeing; we had a blast!
From Canyon Lake, we went further into the hills to Tortilla Flat (population 6) and had lunch. It was great fun, the food was fantastic and there was live music. It was surprisingly crowded, on a Monday. In addition to being warm, sunny and fun, it was relaxing because not a face in AZ was covered by a stupid mask. Not once we left the airport.
OMG, I hate flying. At least this time I didn't get pulled out of the line at security to prove that they don't profile for terrorism. As Jay and I inched along the line, he leaned over and whispered to me "what do you think the odds are you'll get pulled out?" I said "better than 50/50." Apparently, old white ladies are the second biggest threat to the safety of air travel, right behind anyone daring to breathe freely. We kept our faces covered as we sat, smooshed up against each other for three hours in the air. The flight was full and the seats are designed with no consideration for the human form. I was crushed between Jay and some gal. If anyone squished up against you in an elevator as closely as she and I were forced to sit, you'd charge them with assault. But for the sake of 'safety', we all had to wear masks. Except while eating and drinking. Because, as everyone knows, virus can NOT escape an orifice while food is entering.
Covid? hell, people have gotten syphilis without being so close for so long.
I would have loved to have slept on the flight but the seat was so uncomfortable that if I relaxed, either my neck or my lower back began to ache within minutes. Yes, I know its a fancy problem. Poor me. What a spoiled brat.
As nice as it was to have a few days in shorts and sunshine, I was happy to get back to my winter. There's something sterile about the same weather all year 'round. I LOVE the complete change of life with the seasons. Here in the great frozen north, our entire culture changes. We have different wardrobes, different menus, a whole different approach to life in winter than in summer. It's invigorating! If I couldn't call it a day when the sun goes down at 5:00 pm, huddle under a blanket and watch movies for 6 hours for at least a few months out of the year, I'd go nuts.
Of course, it's only the end of January. By the end of February, I may well be singing a completely different tune...but I doubt it. Time flies by so quickly that by the end of February I won't be surprised if it's May.