Dreary

The weather has turned dreary. Omens of future weather, too. Clouds dense and dark. Moving clouds over all the sky for as far as the eye can see. Dark. Ominous. Some rain now and again and then a downpour. Lightening and thunder, too, although less frequent. But rain, yes. Mists and soft rains; hard rains and cold ones. Wet. Damp. Dreary.

And the landscapes turn fiery colors at this time of year but soon lose luster with falling leaves, bare branches, and starkly dark tree trunks and limbs. Just the outline of a tree with no soft leaves and bushiness. Don’t forget the damp ground, dark with sodden weeds now flattened and leaves piling up and rotting. The smell of dank and mulch-forming rot. That is fall. That is the end of the growing season and the beginning of hibernation.

Winter is around the corner. Some snow then lots of snow. Then ice and more snow. Cold winds and difficult travel. Cold and buffeting temps and winds. Not pleasant. Until a fire is lit in a fireplace, the crackle and pop of burning wood and the smell of smoke now tamed and rushing up the chimney. Warmth radiates the room. Blankets over knees and ankles complete the picture. We are snug and at rest. Safely indoors away from the bluster of winter.

Thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and the rush indoors to be with other people we love and like. And the food, too, of course! Thanksgiving, the season of gathering and sharing each others’ presence. A time of family and close friends. A good time.

One wonders if it would be so good if the weather outdoors weren’t so awful?

I remember growing up in southern California. We had Thanksgivings, too, but the weather was in soft and kind in the 60’s and 70’s with an occasional 80’s. The wind, though, came more briskly and yes, some of our trees lost their leaves. But not all. No, not massive nudity among the forests and woods. We had plenty of trees that kept their clothes on through winter! Of course we had pine trees, too, and the palm trees. Both of them kept their greenery throughout the autumnal recess.

With Thanksgiving, comes the welcome to the Christmas season. The happiness and rush to generosity with one another. The season of sharing good times and good things. In modern times a bit too much and over the top. But then that’s how people act over time – stretching good times far beyond original intent. It is up to the rest of us to keep the balance and perspective.

Christmas is a time of love and respect and togetherness. Not apartness. And the weather somehow makes certain we are pressed into this behavior. At least in the north lands of America and the Midwest. Winter is cold and an indoor time. If you like the cold outdoors life, then skiing and sledding and ice skating are your pastimes. For the rest of us respite indoors means a fire, food, and repose.

Dreary. We started with dreary and wended our way to bright firesides. Adjusting to conditions. From dreary to warmth and cozy.

May we get out of this dreary campaign season soon and return to the warm and cozy so needed by us all.

Be kind to one another now so you can enjoy the presence of family and hearth in the coming weeks. Cast your vote and close your mouth. Keep the peace. And be the love we all are asked to be.

October 20, 2016