Is It Winter Yet?

The last few days around Brantford, mainly at work since that is sadly where most of my recent excursions have taken me, I have heard numerous people talk about how they are eagerly looking forward to the end of winter. People are excitedly counting down the days until it can officially be spring and winter is banished for another year. I can understand if this is happening in Ohio or Washington DC or any place that has been held tightly by the clutches of snow. But here in Brantford, I can probably count the amount of snowfalls on one hand (maybe needing to borrow a finger or two from the other hand). This is only if I am counting any type of flake falling from the sky, but if we count a legitimate snowfall where the snow remains on the ground for over 24 hours then I'd only need about 3 fingers. Needless to say, we really haven't had anything that would resemble winter. As I look out my window I see a bright, shining sun and vague remnants of this thing we call snow.

I am not totally complaining because this meant no bus delays and only the occasional need to shovel the driveway. I don't have any need to curse loudly at the inconsiderate homeowner that decided to not shovel their sidewalks, because there isn't really much to shovel. I have appreciated that and I've enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather. I think, it has probably rained more these last few months than snowed.

The problem is that snow can also be fun. Especially when you have a puppy that you wanted to introduce the white, cold blanket to. Summit absolutely adores the cold and he has loved his brief encounter with snow. I had hopes of building a snow fort and then having Summit promptly make it crumble. It would have been great to have several long winter hikes with him. This year we bought a pair of snow shoes with the hope to do a lot of hiking while Summit ran along side us. We've been able to do a little bit of it, I think a grand total of 3 times. Needless to say, not the winter we had been dreaming of.

I laugh at the local people who are begging for winter to end because I am pretty sure that it never began. I envy the people who had the decent winter where they could ski or have snowball fights. And of course, I taunt all the people who were trapped in their house because they had been snowed in. Because when it comes down to it, I am a bit of a meanie and I need to get some joy from this winter.