"Near Dotage" Activity

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Maybe this will come off like preaching.

Maybe it will be meddling.

I don't know - - - - but I'm gonna smile so hopefully it will be NICE preaching and HAPPY meddling.


I've seen LOTS on LOTS of blogs lately about people wishing away winter - - - - longing for sun - - - pining for the beach. I just gotta tell ya, this bothers me on SOOOOO MANY LEVELS! For one thing, there is so much JOY to be found in winter, and if you spend winter wishing for spring you've missed ALL that winter JOY!!!

Let's do a little mathematical calculating. Let's say that those who begin to "pine" for the sun mostly do so during January and February. I'd say that's a pretty fair guess - - - most people are all excited about a little snow BEFORE Christmas and don't allow themselves to go sour until AFTER the Christmas festivities are over. At the OTHER end - - - March is when the hope of spring is alive in the air.

OK then - - - that's settled. Most of the winter whiners do so for two months each year.

Now, I don't know about you but I HOPE to live to be at least 80. So, if I were a winter whiner I'd be whining for 2 months X 80 years. That comes out to 160 months of my life WASTED in whining and wishing the hours away!!!! Do you know that if you DIVIDE that by 12 months a year it comes out to wasting 13.33333 YEARS of your life!?! 13.33333 YEARS of grumpiness.

NOPE - - - NOT for me.


I realize I'm a strange duck who has always LOVED winter - - - but what's NOT TO LOVE??? Let me expound just a little on the virtues of winter: snow converts the world to a veritable wonderland; coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are much more enjoyable with frost on the window pane; a fire on the hearth and a warm yellow glow in the window are much more appreciated when winter gales are fierce; and who could possibly enjoy a thick, soft, quilt during HOT summer months???? (All you QUILTERS out there should be HAPPY about winter when your lovely quilts can be enjoyed by all!!!)

So far, I haven't even MENTIONED the wonderful winter OUTDOOR activities that could NEVER happen in a land of all summer sun!!!

I grew up in the northwoods. My sister and I spent as much time, usually part of every winter day (at least the one that didn't have to practice piano FIRST - - - but that's another story) outside ice skating.

No wimps we!

Once school was canceled because it was 52 below zero with 83 below zero wind chill (yes, this is REAL and not one of those up hill barefoot both ways in the snow speeches) and in the afternoon when it warmed up to a balmy 30 below, we bundled up and went outdoors to slide down the snow piles!!!

What a memory! Slipping down sand dunes on an 80 degree day just isn't the same!


Since Fisherhubby and I have MOVED to Wisconsin, where winter is EMBRACED, where folks do NOT just hibernate indoors wishing for spring - - - we decided we wanted to find an outdoor winter activity that we could enjoy together!


So in our "near dotage" we have equipped ourselves with all the paraphernalia necessary to go cross country skiing.

On our FIRST outing, Fisherhubby who grew up in the sunny winterless state of Florida learned a very valuable lesson - - - you can OVER DRESS for outdoor activity, in which case you will get TOO HOT!

'Tis true.


The first time out, we had to get used to the balance that is different on these skinny toothpick skis than it is for downhill skiing or ice skating.

The first time out I lost my skinny toothpick ski balance and tumbled down into the snow - - - THREE TIMES! I'll tell ya, it's a bit of a work out to get back up!


Yesterday I didn't fall - - - even once. Fisherhubby fell once, but this is NOT to be misunderstood that I have more skilz than does he. No - - - verily, verily I say unto you - - - it is because HE takes risks, pushes the envelope, and TRIES to go faster while I just plod along at the pace I can handle.


So gorgeous out there in the snowy piney wood! Sometimes I paused just to look around. To my right I could see through the trees to Lake Nepco and the ice fishing shanty village it holds during this time of year. Look closely and you too will see the shanties peeping between the trees.


Then after wiping my dripping nose - - - I skied on into the forest. We are LOVING this!!!


After skiing, instead of turning for home I pointed the Red Bucky Mobile east toward another favorite haunt of ours - - - Lake Wazeecha!

This is the Bucky Mobile sitting right out ON Lake Wazeecha!!! I know those of you who live in warmer climes will shudder at the thought of DRIVING out onto a lake - - - but TRUST ME - - - the ice is over a foot thick and perfectly safe for driving - - -


And for supporting ice fishing shanties. Even yesterday, a week day, there was fishing activity going on!


Many folks up here build their own shanties complete with bunks, cook stoves, and heaters.

I kid you not!!

Fisherhubby is longing to get out and do some ice fishing - - - but so far has not managed that between work and our new "near dotage" activity of xc-skiing.

So I say, Cheer Up!!! Find YOUR winter activity that will bring back your joy. Either FIND your JOY or you'll have 13.33333 years of your life filled with grumpage, whining and pining.

As Red Green says, "I'm pulling for ya. Remember, we're all in this together!"

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