If you can’t beat them....

(and let’s face it, who in the history of the earth has ever beaten mother nature)...then suit up.

I am not a terribly fast learner, but during my first winter here in Alberta, I realized that the days of looking out the window at the cold grey world surrounding you and waiting for spring from the comfort of your living room were over.

Gone were the Mississippi winters of my youth which consisted of about three months of grey rainy weather and an occasional ice storm which made headlines across the state. For a short time everyone hibernated indoors and before you could say “Easter Sunday” the daffodils were blooming, the azaleas emerging and winter was a distant memory. However my geographical location has since shifted and so has my mindset. In a place where approximately 9 months out of the year resemble winter, waiting inside was not an option.

So today as I sat lethargically looking outside at the whitish gray landscape, I know I only had one choice – suit up. I pulled on the wool socks, the second pair of wool socks, the thermal underwear, lined ski-pants, tee-shirt, second tee-shirt, sweat shirt, down vest, down coat, gloves, hat, scarves, and went for a walk. No daffodils in sight, but Alberta winters do have a beauty of their own...