The leaves are falling, the air is crisp and cold at times and the nights are no longer warm enough for shorts and cold drinks on the deck.
We’ve reached one of Canada’s three seasons, winter. The other two are, the current summer and the one we’re waiting nine months for.
We’re entering the stereotypical cold hard world that we Canadians call home.
On the surface, yes Canadians tend to smile and act very cordial, but excuse my English: “Who the hell likes to scrape windshields and shovel driveways?”.
Sitting in cold cars while water collects, freezing in your eyes and watching as your breath pollutes the air like the fumes from a car.
I absolutely hate that every season other than winter is the prequel to winter. Sometimes winter even comes in the middle of summer in Alberta, it’s very disheartening people.
“Winter is coming,” is a favourite quote from the popular Game of Thrones, but winter could never come and I’d be OK with that.
But as I sit here shaking the dust off my wool lined boots, un-box my wrinkled, ratty winter jacket and un-sandwich my gloves from the bottom of improperly packed boxes, I wonder if I’m alone?
How many Canadians can say they actually enjoy scraping glass, salting pavement, changing to winter tires? Wrapping up in a plethora of gloves, warmers, socks, sock warmers, hats, toques, hoods, jackets and undercoats, fleeces, and long john’s?
Sure there’s snowboarding, skiing, and snowball fights, but Canada, I’m here to call your bluff, outside of the “pretty white snow” and a few odd extreme sports, you’ve got no argument.
Now I don’t think there are any Canadian’s who believe that fallacy, cocky of me, but that’s my opinion. But damned if you ever let on that you hate winter, in fact don’t ever let anyone outside of Canada know.
It’s silly but, the number of times I’ve defended winter to an ignorant traveler asking if, “I live in an igloo,” or “if we have refrigerators or just keep the food outside in the snow.”
I’ve always responded with, “well, it’s not that bad,” and “it’s actually not too cold once your body gets used to it, it’s actually quite nice.”
Winter is our stigmatized social quirk. It’s the thing that sets us apart from many nations and because we are forced to put up with it while our snowbirds travel south for the winter, we SHOULD flaunt our daring, bold, bravery, which gives us a shared respect for each other.
In fact, winter is like the little brother who annoys every inch of me. At home you pick on him, complain about how much you wish you had a sister instead of this annoying brat and maybe even tell him that he was adopted, but that’s where it ends.
No one can pick on your little brother but you. It’s an unwritten rule, look it up kids.
But when you get to school, he’s your brother and damned if anyone but you gets to pick on him but you. You’d defend him to the death if he’s bullied and picked on, just because you’re family.
I for one am OK with continuing to give off the illusion of winter bliss to outsiders, but please, don’t tell me how wonderful the snow is.
Sincerely, bah humbug.
