A fresh coat of paint

Winter is such a wonderful season, especially for me since I am more drawn to cold weather. And winters were it snows and the snow stays on the ground for months is so very different for me. It is almost like living in two different cities at the same time. Everything is so different and so much brighter with snow on the ground. And this is really medicine for the soul when you are only receiving 5 or 6 hours of daylight per day.
So after living all these years in the southern United States I have finally discovered winter. And luckily I have discovered it in the midst of a culture that embraces it's winters.
It is so funny how exciting the first few snows of the each year are to everyone. (or at least to me). And the world goes from being so dark and barren to suddenly being light and alive. And all the kids, old and young alike :), bring out their sleighs, skis and other winter toys. And the world seems so alive for several weeks. And then it goes a few weeks without snow, maybe even warms up a bit, and the streets are ugly with the brown dirty snow, and the sidewalks are slick from melted snow being refrozen, and it takes longer to get anywhere and the excitement wears off. And the dirty snow and slippery ice become part of the normal landscape, something to be navigated, planned around, ignored.
And then..............as if by magic..........you wake up as I did this morning...........to a fresh coat of paint.....and all you can do is smile and be happy for today all is good with the world.