Snow Birds

       For at least ten years now, I have had the desire to become a, "Snow Bird." For those of you not familiar with the term, it is when one moves to an area with a warmer climate when the climate they are in begins to turn cold. Then when the area one left begins to get warm again one moves back. In effect, you don't experience the cold or SNOW, much like birds that fly south for the winter. Why do I want to be a Snow Bird, simply put, I hate the cold and snow. And here, in the northeast, we get both. There was a time when I enjoyed the snow. As a kid and then, later on when my son was young and we had fun with snow activities. He's older now and off sledding on his own when he wants to and I, I stare out the windows in a pair of old, gray sweat pants wishing for Spring and Summer. The winter months also affect me emotionally. The frequent gray sky, lack of color and limited daylight are morbidly depressing. I am reluctant to leave the warmth of my home and prefer to just sit in a my big, cozy chair. When forced to abandon this cave like environment, I have to endure the minimum of a half hour of prep time. Draping myself in layers of arctic clothing I have purchased over the years. Only then can I leave the house but, with extremely restricted mobility and the inability to bend myself enough to get into my frozen car. It's lonely outside during the cold weather. Most people stay indoors and only venture out to go to work and take care of necessary business. 
     However, when it is warm and sunny and the daylight lasts far into the evening, spirits rise. People are out and about, busy planning or engaging in, outdoor, activities. Everywhere you look there is color bursting, from flowers, trees or the clothes people are wearing. People are walking along the streets. Restaurants have tables set up outside and people flock to beaches and lakes. The house becomes a stop off place where you change from day to night clothes and also, an occasional place to grab some food. Everyone seems happier and life appears to have returned. There is what appears to be more energy in the air and people themselves seem to have more energy. I know I do and I am far more willing to be active.
     So, it comes down to spending half of each year sitting with the Grim Reaper and the other half riding on the back of life. I no longer want to spend my year this way. Not when there is an option and that option is to spend the entire year riding on the back of life. So I envy the birds who fly south for the winter thus escaping the cold.  But I also bow to them for they have slapped me in the face with the alternative.