Every year, without fail yet in my short little life, summer leads to fall, and fall leads to winter. You know there is no going back, you know you've entered that dark, cold season the day you decide to turn on the heat.
I was wearing socks and warm pj's and a sweater and at some points considered finding some mitts today at home. I could have just turned on the heat. Like most houses in North America I have a full heating system set up in every room of my house, which for a very reasonable price will warm my entire home to a comfy no sock needed space. But no, instead I cooked, swept and mopped the floors. I installed lamps and moved furniture. I started rearranging my closet and made the bed. I danced to loud music, had a hot shower, drank tea, a little rum too and i cuddled with my cat, which is not really my cat. And now I'm sitting at second cup where I can convince myself that sitting in a public space which is heated is not the same as heating my own home. Once I heat you see, it's all over. It is me giving up any hope of winter waiting a little longer to stretch its mean cold angry fingers and drag me down the rabbit hole of depression which is the reality of the longest Canadian season.
I was born here, in Quebec, have lived here a good part of my life. Montreal is HOME. I love so many things about my home town. I do not LOVE the cold. Understatement of the year. Every year it gets harder and harder to make it through. There is very little good I can say about this season. I like those one or two amazing snow days where the sun makes the entire world look like it was dipped in sugar. I love the coziness of the home that you can only understand if you've lived in a northern climate. Home becomes a living creature that wraps you up and makes you feel save, loved cared for. The smallest little twinkling light or candle can have the most magical effect on an entire room in a way that is just not possible in the heat. Scarves, sweaters, leg warmers because I'm an 80's child hot tea and hot coco, root veggies, big socks, soup. These are the things that make it possible to survive this harsh weather. I love these things. But I would give them all up to never again feel that pain I get in my back when I walk in the cold. It starts way up high and then my entire body clenches and my back becomes so stiff from top to bottom and shooting pain radiates in every direction. No worries, the pain will stop in oh, six or seven months. Hahahhaha I wish I was kidding.
This is winter for me. This is why I will not admit that it has arrived yet and will not turn the heat on. Not yet. I will make it to November... I WILL.
I was wearing socks and warm pj's and a sweater and at some points considered finding some mitts today at home. I could have just turned on the heat. Like most houses in North America I have a full heating system set up in every room of my house, which for a very reasonable price will warm my entire home to a comfy no sock needed space. But no, instead I cooked, swept and mopped the floors. I installed lamps and moved furniture. I started rearranging my closet and made the bed. I danced to loud music, had a hot shower, drank tea, a little rum too and i cuddled with my cat, which is not really my cat. And now I'm sitting at second cup where I can convince myself that sitting in a public space which is heated is not the same as heating my own home. Once I heat you see, it's all over. It is me giving up any hope of winter waiting a little longer to stretch its mean cold angry fingers and drag me down the rabbit hole of depression which is the reality of the longest Canadian season.
I was born here, in Quebec, have lived here a good part of my life. Montreal is HOME. I love so many things about my home town. I do not LOVE the cold. Understatement of the year. Every year it gets harder and harder to make it through. There is very little good I can say about this season. I like those one or two amazing snow days where the sun makes the entire world look like it was dipped in sugar. I love the coziness of the home that you can only understand if you've lived in a northern climate. Home becomes a living creature that wraps you up and makes you feel save, loved cared for. The smallest little twinkling light or candle can have the most magical effect on an entire room in a way that is just not possible in the heat. Scarves, sweaters, leg warmers because I'm an 80's child hot tea and hot coco, root veggies, big socks, soup. These are the things that make it possible to survive this harsh weather. I love these things. But I would give them all up to never again feel that pain I get in my back when I walk in the cold. It starts way up high and then my entire body clenches and my back becomes so stiff from top to bottom and shooting pain radiates in every direction. No worries, the pain will stop in oh, six or seven months. Hahahhaha I wish I was kidding.
This is winter for me. This is why I will not admit that it has arrived yet and will not turn the heat on. Not yet. I will make it to November... I WILL.
