Missing winter
While discussing the weather with family members who live away from here I realized something. We are at the end of January and this might be the easiest winter of my life. So far, the Big Blue tractor has visited one time. Only. And that happened more to show that the service was still there. No real need. In sharp contrast, people in the far South have had more snow. Places like Florida. Now I know, we are a long way from being out of the woods as they say. Many weeks to go with ample opportunity for heavy precipitation. But I do worry. Will I be forced to ration water next summer? That is a real possibility. Meanwhile, the ocean is ice free. No need for that pesky scheduled shift that used to put the ferries in the dry dock from before Christmas. That changes a lot of the math in the industry. If you have to run a big fuel hungry ship for many more months in the year then you’re bottom line is going to be affected. The number of available passengers falls far short of the number of available berths. Also when we lack sea ice we run an increased risk of erosion. Our beautiful beaches may pay the price of a soft winter. But no matter. I have no control. Who knows? Next week could be very different for us. In this house, skis and snowshoes and other winter sports apparatus are considered to be important. If you have never tried to go on dead grass with snow shoes then you just need to stop by here. Again, it does not really matter. Four months from now we will be able to start our usual spring and summer season. Street shoes and light shirts. Quite different from when I was very young and the snow covered the wires on the Telegraph lines. I really should find some old pictures to show my children.
Read the rest of this entry »posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Missing winter | 328 words
