In the Bleak Late Fall

In the bleak late fall, warmish wind made moan, 
Earth stood spongey black mud, water drips from stone; 
Rain had fallen, rain on rain, rain on rain, 
In the bleak late fall, snow is gone. 

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I don’t believe there will be a white Christmas in Wisconsin this year. The forecast is not promising. If the rain of yesterday and today had been snow, we would be buried in a blanket of white. If the warmth of these days had been the usual bone chilling cold, we would be shoveling sidewalks and driving on treacherous roads. Children would be home from school and Christmas programs postponed.

Funny, I’m not the least bit concerned about the lack of snow. Or cold.

Perhaps it’s my age – I’ve driven plenty of treacherous roads, scraped enough ice and snow from the windshield, and cursed plenty of sub-zero days that I find the warmer weather enjoyable. I don’t mind the rain, although the prospect of throwing a snowball at a co-worker or friend or Natasha is enticing. I’ve heard people reflect that it’s hard to get in the spirit of Christmas without snow.

I say throw flour or powdered sugar or white packing peanuts on the ground and be happy.

Want to get in the mood? Go to Pandora or Spotify and sing along to your favorite holiday tunes. Bake cookies. Finish trimming the tree. Wrap presents. Drink hot cocoa by the fire. Send a few Christmas cards. Watch “White Christmas” with Bing and Danny.

Holiday happiness doesn’t revolve solely around the white stuff.

Celebrate family, friends, the birth of Jesus, the coming of Santa, and the spirit of the season. We’ll have cold (in the next day or two) and snow (to be determined) soon enough.

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What about the rest of my northern hemisphere readers? Are you experiencing the warmer weather or are you buried in snow? Do you always long for white at Christmas?

As for the south or southern hemisphere peeps who are probably sweating under heat and humidity, what is the perfect weather for your holidays? Is there such a thing? Or do you have a tradition that is more important than the elements outside?

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If you continue to moan the lack of snow in the coming days, well here you go. Sing along, peeps.