Call me crazy, but I am more than disappointed in the weather that this winter—if we can even call it winter—has brought this year so far. In years past, I have memories of snow days well before Thanksgiving, but this year, sadly, it seems a white Christmas may be out of reach. It is already December and aside from a few flakes here and there, snow has yet to make an appearance.
Wishing for colder weather and a snowstorm might not be common among New Englanders, but for me, it is the main reason I enjoy living on the east coast. Unlike the sunny states of Florida and California, in Connecticut we pride ourselves on having four seasons. However, as years go on, thanks to our good friend Global Warming, winters are growing shorter and shorter and it is my biggest fear that eventually, they will disappear all together. Just the other day it was 60 degrees out; when people would normally be all bundled up they were instead wearing t-shirts and flip-flops. It is ridiculous!
This is extremely upsetting to people who wait all year round for winter to come. Sure, summer is fun and exciting and fall is beautiful, but nothing compares to a cozy night by the fireside that winter can offer. Winter has always been my favorite season; it is quiet, peaceful, and really brings families together. Whereas in the warmer months, we tend to spend a lot of time outside doing our own activities, but during winter we get to appreciate those relaxing nights in, watching movies, drinking hot chocolate and spending time with one another.
This year, those nights have been far and few between. Winter forces people to slow down from their hectic lifestyles and cancel plans to stay in during a snowstorm. This December though, people are still living their lives fast as ever because we haven’t had any snow to slow us down… our winter coats are still hanging up in the closet and our hats and mittens have yet to see the light of day. I can’t help but feel sorry for the children of today’s generation who are missing out on making life lasting memories. I remember being a kid and putting on layer after layer of thermals and sweaters and coats and snow pants and having the best time outside, enjoying the snow. We would build igloos and snowmen and have snowball fights and then run inside and watch a Christmas movie. It is always said that children today are too caught up on technology to really enjoy the great outdoors, but this season, I can’t blame them; getting all bundled up to go out and play in the grass doesn’t appeal to me either.
You don’t really know what you have until it’s gone, so I never knew how much winter meant to me until it was nonexistent this year. I keep hoping that Mother Nature is just being fashionably late, but as time goes on and temperatures remain the same, I am beginning to worry more and more. Could this really be the year without a white winter?
