“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”
― Yoko Ono
There are several pairs of wrens in our backyard who entertain us daily. Their chatter and busyness warms our hearts and gives us hope Spring is not that far away. I thought I’d share a picture of their new home today for all my friends fighting sub-zero temperatures.
We are very fortunate when you compare our temperatures to those in the Midwest. Oh, I remember those bitterly cold days, covering our faces with scarves so our noses wouldn’t freeze shut and we could breathe through your mouths without making our chests feel like they’d explode from the extreme cold.
One memory stands out from the rest.
It had snowed and the temperature was well below zero. Because of that, we had a snow day. I’d asked to go to a friends and told I could go after shoveling the walk and driveway. Done. I was on my way. There was only way for me to get there–I’d have to walk. Not at all appealing but I was motivated. I’d already set a plan in motion to meet my boyfriend along the way.
There was a problem. I’d worn my only hat to shovel. Now it was not only ugly but wet. There was NO way I was going anywhere with that on my head. Plus, who wanted hat hair? After thinking it over for about ten-seconds, I figured I’d be fine. I wouldn’t be gone that long and I’d be okay–and way cuter without the dumb hat.
Amazing to me how well all our little plans came together without the help of cell phones. Without a dozen calls or texting we found each other just fine. For an hour or so we talked and walked through the fresh snow. The excitement of the new relationship dulled my senses to the increasing pain in my ears. Eventually the light began to fade and it was time to head home.
Once I was alone, I began to realize I couldn’t feel my ears. I’d always spent a lot of time outside but never felt anything like this. I began to warm up and my ears began to tingle–like they were asleep. I put my hands up to see if they were warming up and realized they were not just warm but on fire and had swollen to twice their size. As I pulled my hands away I could see that they were an odd color and immobile–hard as rocks.
I had no idea what frost bite really was but I knew I’d gotten myself into quite a fix. I had no idea what to do. Luckily my long-ish bob style hair cut covered my ever-expanding ears. It would be hard for me to explain how my ears had gotten in such shape from being at my friend’s house for the afternoon.
By the grace of God, my ears recovered–eventually. I had a few days of incredible pain as they morphed back to something closer to normal. It could have turned out so much worse.
This was one my first lessons where common sense is pitted against my stubbornness. This lesson remains one
I’m given often and one I continue to struggle to learn. Throw a little vanity into the equation and the odds of successful lesson completion do not swing in my favor.
Learn from me, my friends. Stay safe and warm in these extreme weather conditions.
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
― Anne Bradstreet, The Works of Anne Bradstreet
I am…
B…simply being…
~Peace~
B...simply being... 