Love this piece! Sister lover of winter over here, fully aligning with your thoughts. Thank you for such a great essay -- and the audio version. So great!
Especially love your sundog reference. I've had a long love of sundogs and feel they are roundly under-appreciated among the meteorological phenomena! Not that it's a competition. But they're awe-inspiring.
Finally, really appreciate the transparency (and modelling) around your subscription contributions.
Hi Nia! You and I feel the same ways about winter, although I think Fall is my most joyful time - I love the colors, the changes, and of course I know Winter is next 😀. I bet you are finally getting snow as we are here. I was just in Canada skiing, were the temps were -30F with no windchill. I think I found my limits! 🤣. I too enjoy backcountry and downhill, I just love the feeling of moving over snow (even though I was born in Alabama!). Each activity brings it's own rewards and pleasures, but nothing beats a long climb with a friend or 2 up a peak, and skiing down together with no one around.
As always your writing is so lovely and beautiful and just makes we want to embrace all of Nature! Thanks for that gift. Best, Paul
I too grew up downhill skiing on the east coast (you get good with ice), but "switched" to cross country in my 20s (back in the 1980s--eek!), for all the reasons you mention. These days is when there is a big dump of snow right in town (rare enough any more) it's a super treat to strap on my skis before it is light and head up the street before the plows do their thing. Swishing and swooshing through a snow-covered neighborhood is a thing to be treasured...
“No matter where we originated in this world, there have always been forces and delights and entities to remind us that what we call creation or life is always in the process of becoming, and astonishing us. To feel humble before it all, and love for it all, might be our greatest calling.”
Are you in my head?? I second everything you wrote. The only thing I would add is I get such joy when my nose hairs freeze...some weird joy from my childhood I guess. My Mantra for the last week has been "No exposed flesh"
I've never lived anywhere that gets as cold as what you've been experiencing, but I do love winter, and I do love the modest single-digit cold we occasionally get in my part of the world. It simplifies life down to good books, soups and stews, and keeping warm.
Lovely to read. I’m a fellow lover of winter too as a warmbody. Winter doesn’t phase me that much and nothing is better than sweating in under 0C while out on a run.. it’s a glorious feeling, and a beautiful mental exercise.. As a society on the other end of the spectrum, with 50C constantly in Kuwait during summer, we marvel at the people who complain of cold winters. Our first response always is: “ you go out naked for summer, but you can bundle up for winter..”
And you’re right, we don’t know how many of real winters we’re gonna have in the future.. It’s such a scary thought that...
Your reflections on the beauty and joy of winter are especially welcome this weekend in Texas, where the predominant emotion is fear. Thank you for the reminder that there is goodness there if we look for it (and especially if the power doesn't go out)!
Listened to this while driving home from another hospital visit (just follow up, no emergency) - thank you for your lovely words. On the drive up my mind was griping and whining that we had to be up before sunrise and the dash read -5 🥶 but after listening I was able to just enjoy the drive home with the the sunshine and the this-worldly snow drifts and the glistening trees 😍
Such a gorgeous ode to winter ❤️
Love this piece! Sister lover of winter over here, fully aligning with your thoughts. Thank you for such a great essay -- and the audio version. So great!
Especially love your sundog reference. I've had a long love of sundogs and feel they are roundly under-appreciated among the meteorological phenomena! Not that it's a competition. But they're awe-inspiring.
Finally, really appreciate the transparency (and modelling) around your subscription contributions.
Your photos are absolutely beautiful!! I’m not a fan of snow and cold, but your writing makes me want to love it!
Beautiful writing! I don't like winter, but after listening to this I'm tempted to change my mind.
Hi Nia! You and I feel the same ways about winter, although I think Fall is my most joyful time - I love the colors, the changes, and of course I know Winter is next 😀. I bet you are finally getting snow as we are here. I was just in Canada skiing, were the temps were -30F with no windchill. I think I found my limits! 🤣. I too enjoy backcountry and downhill, I just love the feeling of moving over snow (even though I was born in Alabama!). Each activity brings it's own rewards and pleasures, but nothing beats a long climb with a friend or 2 up a peak, and skiing down together with no one around.
As always your writing is so lovely and beautiful and just makes we want to embrace all of Nature! Thanks for that gift. Best, Paul
What an absolutely beautiful piece of writing - wow. The last paragraph is just so moving - sheer poetry. Thank you
This is absolutely exquisite. Thank you.
I too grew up downhill skiing on the east coast (you get good with ice), but "switched" to cross country in my 20s (back in the 1980s--eek!), for all the reasons you mention. These days is when there is a big dump of snow right in town (rare enough any more) it's a super treat to strap on my skis before it is light and head up the street before the plows do their thing. Swishing and swooshing through a snow-covered neighborhood is a thing to be treasured...
“No matter where we originated in this world, there have always been forces and delights and entities to remind us that what we call creation or life is always in the process of becoming, and astonishing us. To feel humble before it all, and love for it all, might be our greatest calling.”
I love that. Winter is one of my favorites too.
Are you in my head?? I second everything you wrote. The only thing I would add is I get such joy when my nose hairs freeze...some weird joy from my childhood I guess. My Mantra for the last week has been "No exposed flesh"
Thank you for your beautiful prose.
I've never lived anywhere that gets as cold as what you've been experiencing, but I do love winter, and I do love the modest single-digit cold we occasionally get in my part of the world. It simplifies life down to good books, soups and stews, and keeping warm.
Lovely to read. I’m a fellow lover of winter too as a warmbody. Winter doesn’t phase me that much and nothing is better than sweating in under 0C while out on a run.. it’s a glorious feeling, and a beautiful mental exercise.. As a society on the other end of the spectrum, with 50C constantly in Kuwait during summer, we marvel at the people who complain of cold winters. Our first response always is: “ you go out naked for summer, but you can bundle up for winter..”
And you’re right, we don’t know how many of real winters we’re gonna have in the future.. It’s such a scary thought that...
We got a sprinkling of snow. I'm hoping more falls overnight!
Your reflections on the beauty and joy of winter are especially welcome this weekend in Texas, where the predominant emotion is fear. Thank you for the reminder that there is goodness there if we look for it (and especially if the power doesn't go out)!
I love everything about this! And oh my gosh, these photos are amazing!
Lovely lovely Nia -- and we thought -28 overnight lows were something!
Listened to this while driving home from another hospital visit (just follow up, no emergency) - thank you for your lovely words. On the drive up my mind was griping and whining that we had to be up before sunrise and the dash read -5 🥶 but after listening I was able to just enjoy the drive home with the the sunshine and the this-worldly snow drifts and the glistening trees 😍