The Write Place #2 - Winter
“Winter is nature's way of saying, ‘Up yours.’ ”
-Robert Byrne
Winters in Boston are an acquired taste. Precipitation is a guarantee. The form it comes in is a Divine whim. Rain, if you’re lucky. Ice if not. The power company is usually pretty good about getting power back on after an ice storm. That is unless they’re in the middle of contact renegotiations…or it’s during a play-off game. (Superbowl? Face it. You’re SOL.)
Snow storms are pretty much the same. With shovel will travel…more some such crap. If you know its about to hit you’d better make a map to your car before you leave it. If you don’t you might as well put an APB out on it. After a few feet of snow (and a few passes of the snow plow) all vehicles look the same out there. Nobody likes to admit it…but most people have dug out the wrong car from time to time. Even after you dig it out you take the train…because you’ll never find a cleared spot to park it when you get to your destination….and be prepared to fight for it. Trust me, I’ve done a few pick ups were parallel parking has ended in a very deadly direction.
Cold is another thing. There is something about living near the ocean. The shellfish is great, but the cold so bitter that you can feel it in your bones. Ask anyone in my office and they can tell you it seems like nine times out of ten the pickups are near the water this time of year. (Ask any homicide cop and they’ll tell you ten out of ten…and they’re all floaters. Whiners.)
Bostonians have learned to adjust to winter weather. Hospitals traditionally double schedule OB nurses nine months after the big storms and long cold snaps.
Winter can be pleasant too. Feather blankets, cozy fires, snow days from work. (Moonshine and Pfeffernüsse are some of my personal favorite winter time memories) And if you’re not totally snowed in there’s usually a pub or two within walking distance serving hot toddies….so, it can’t be all that bad.
Like it or hate it, winter is a fact of life here in New England. You learn to cope….and plan retirement in Florida.
-Robert Byrne
Winters in Boston are an acquired taste. Precipitation is a guarantee. The form it comes in is a Divine whim. Rain, if you’re lucky. Ice if not. The power company is usually pretty good about getting power back on after an ice storm. That is unless they’re in the middle of contact renegotiations…or it’s during a play-off game. (Superbowl? Face it. You’re SOL.)
Snow storms are pretty much the same. With shovel will travel…more some such crap. If you know its about to hit you’d better make a map to your car before you leave it. If you don’t you might as well put an APB out on it. After a few feet of snow (and a few passes of the snow plow) all vehicles look the same out there. Nobody likes to admit it…but most people have dug out the wrong car from time to time. Even after you dig it out you take the train…because you’ll never find a cleared spot to park it when you get to your destination….and be prepared to fight for it. Trust me, I’ve done a few pick ups were parallel parking has ended in a very deadly direction.
Cold is another thing. There is something about living near the ocean. The shellfish is great, but the cold so bitter that you can feel it in your bones. Ask anyone in my office and they can tell you it seems like nine times out of ten the pickups are near the water this time of year. (Ask any homicide cop and they’ll tell you ten out of ten…and they’re all floaters. Whiners.)
Bostonians have learned to adjust to winter weather. Hospitals traditionally double schedule OB nurses nine months after the big storms and long cold snaps.
Winter can be pleasant too. Feather blankets, cozy fires, snow days from work. (Moonshine and Pfeffernüsse are some of my personal favorite winter time memories) And if you’re not totally snowed in there’s usually a pub or two within walking distance serving hot toddies….so, it can’t be all that bad.
Like it or hate it, winter is a fact of life here in New England. You learn to cope….and plan retirement in Florida.