Winter I know things change
they must and it’s good.
But you are not who you
used to be when I was young.
When I was a child you were
restless, and everywhere, large
and looming, exciting, I looked
forward to seeing you, I
wondered when you would visit us
you were my favourite season.
When you scattered snowflakes
on my upturned face I giggled
with the joy of it all.
Now I dread those first snowflakes, and I wonder when and if you will ever leave, winter why did you change? You are everywhere, on the trees, the ground, you take my flowers away, and make it hard to drive anywhere. Why did you change, and when?
The layers of clothing I wore as a child kept out your bitter lashing cold but I didn’t mind, because I didn’t feel cold then. Now I feel the sting of the icy breath you breathe all over me, I shiver and am never warm, when did you change winter?
I used to play in your snow with joyous abandon, now I grumble as I shovel masses of it away, when did you change winter? When did you become a chore, and not a joy.
Or maybe it is I who have changed.
Maybe the glow of childhood dimmed, and winters true colors and cold are showing. I have to learn to see beyond the childhood memory and see the reality the truth that cold as you are you are still my beloved childhood winter.
Let’s be friends again, even if both of us have changed.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
I never liked winter as a child. Oh, sure, I thrilled at the first snowfall, but I never could abide the cold. My mother always sent us outside every day, in any type of weather. She maintained that it kept us from getting sick. I think she just wanted an hour of peace in her day. *grin*
ReplyDeleteCute photos!
Oh how I loved to get out and play in the winter. We skated on the rink behind out house, built snowmen and snow forts, and had snowball fights, went sliding on the toboggan and cardboard boxes and didn't seem to mind. I remember coming in the house nearly frozen, feet and hands tingling, and then putting our feet in front of the open oven door to warm up. Boy my feet hurt when the 'frost' came out. :) I love your photos. It looks like you enjoyed your winters as a child too. Funny how we changed as we got older. It's snowing again today but, I'm staying inside. Enjoy this winter day Jen. Pam
ReplyDeleteSo true, Jen. My sister and I were just discussing this very thing. When I was a kid, it lasted forever, was cold and snowy all the time, we ice-skated across the street, it was magical.
ReplyDeleteNow? Not so much.
xo
Claudia
Awesome post and photos ! I to remember winter being different as a child then it is today ! More snow back then and colder temps but as kids we don't really feel it like we do now as we get older . I guess I stirred something up in our e-mail at how different the winters are now to then , I often look back at my childhood photos in the winter and think how did we survive the deep snow and fidget temps ! Have a good day .
ReplyDeleteGreat post, lots of things are like that. Growing up takes away the wonderment. I hope you and old man winter can at least tolerate each other!!!
ReplyDeleteCute post, I did not like winter as a child and not like it as an adult. Great images!
ReplyDeleteWell, as a child I didn't have to drive in snow or scrape ice off a windshield or shovel snow or worry about falling on ice or stocking caps ruining my hairdo or running out of rock salt or... Ahh, youth!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Jen, and so true... loved the "vintage" photos! Cheers~
ReplyDeleteThis is written just beautifully, Jen and the pictures are perfect...you were a cute little bubbly girl! I feel exactly the same way (well, not so much this year, no snow, just cold). I hope someday when I have grandkids I will feel that joy again. I guess we have to just see it for the first time over again.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a good weekend and that you get a respite from the snow and cold weather there.
XO,
Jane
Adorable photos. I have 2 more words for you...snow blower....
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Jen and it brought me back to my own childhood in Buffalo.
ReplyDeleteAw this is so sweet even if you are cold. I loved the pics. You were so darn cute. I will not tell you how warm we are today. Lest you stop being my friend.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot of things I enjoyed as a child that I don't now. ha Cold winters and snow are definitely two of them.
ReplyDeleteJudy
This is a wonderful reflective essay!
ReplyDeleteWhat a little cutie you were.
ReplyDeleteLove those old photos! and glad you're trying to reconcile with winter. There's no point fighting it (although I grump about it every fall - takes me a while each year to settle into the season)
ReplyDeleteIn my advanced years, for me snow and ice are a menace. I don't enjoy the cold, I don't enjoy the bundling up. I fell a few years ago because of the ice, breaking my ankle. Non-weight baring for 15 weeks. No. I don't embrace snow much any more.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures and post capturing the sweet memories of a child's love for winter. Yes, I guess we do change. How good it would be to see more from a joyful approach to everything we have to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautifully written post, Jen, full of nostalgia for the way things used to be. How we do change as we grow up. I hope you find that joy of winter that you once had.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics, Jen. It seems as we grow older, lots of things take on a different meaning!
ReplyDeleteHow very sweet! I've always been a Southerner so I didn't grow up with the snow and all of the fun activities. You sure are a cutie and I'm trying to see what little toy you are holding! Sweet hugs!
ReplyDeleteJen girl I played so much I was soaking wet when i came in and had that RED flesh that itched and stung? at the same time .. remember the smell of wet mittens? LOL
ReplyDeleteI got to go through that agin when Number One Son was little and it was so much fun .. we grown ups were killing ourselves sliding down BIG hills with the kids and having to climb back up them .. I wonder how many calories I burnt then ? haha .. those were the good old days .. ah, but now ? I hate the shock of different temps going in and out of the car and stores .. it actually hurts .. so I do have my yearning for just a FAST winter and a sooner Spring for sure!!
Joy
Killer cute pictures girl !!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLet's try this again...
ReplyDeleteOh how adorable! So cute, loved seeing these precious pics.
I love winter, still but NOT the grey, cloudy days that seem to be the norm where we live now. I need some sun to go with the mix. :<)
Happy Weekend Jen, G
PS: I had about 2 hours of sleep last night, my typing is showing it LOL.
Such cute childhood pictures!
ReplyDeleteI still love winter - it really helps when you manage to change your attitude... although I did get frostbitten yesterday and sick so loved it a little less...
Oh Jen what a sweet post and those pictures are just adorable of you...yes indeed winter has changed with us and I hope to find the sweet winter I knew once...
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth... except, winter has changed around here... we've gotten more snow this year than the last 5 years combined.
ReplyDeleteI think it changed when my kids got too big for snowball fights, and my back started bothering me when I shoveled the driveway. Of course, this winter there is nothing to shovel.
ReplyDeleteAww you were a cute kid! I was never cold as a kid either..except when my mittens got wet or I got snow down my coat sleeves..:)
ReplyDelete