Winter past and winter present

Ursula Feist

It's April and by now spring should have sprung. Even devoted snow lovers must feel enough is enough! I believe that Mother Nature keeps sending the world strong messages to stop destroying our planet. It's hard to blame the government for the winter wonderland that outstayed its welcome this year. We can't even let off too much steam at the city administration for the slow snow removal. However, their outrageous idea to impose an additional tax for this essential service is unacceptable. Last year we had practically no snow and it should all balance out!

Returning from my winter break I could hardly find my front door.

Mountains of snow had hidden it from view. I quickly recognized that I must plan my agenda according to the weather report and prepare myself to be a prisoner in my house once again. This will cause me cabin fever and severe snow rage!

I kept thinking about Hans Christian Andersen's sad fairy tale about the poor little matchgirl trying to sell matches in the bitter cold, dressed in rags, with no shoes, no gloves, hungry, frightened and watching a fat family behind a lit window, carving a roasted goose stuffed with prunes and apples. The next morning she was found frozen to death, but with a smile on her face. I did not have a smile on my face listening to the howling winds around my house. It sounded like the orgasmic outbursts of a bunch of unruly cats and I quickly put on Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream to drown it out.

When we came to Canada from England in 1951 the winters here were more severe than they have been over the last few years. I remember watching our little boy playing in deep snow, and pulling him on a sled on Mount Royal. A rich relative pointed out that I did not have a proper winter coat and presented me with her old skunk fur. It weighed a ton but kept me warm. However, whenever it got wet it stank and this has taught me to identify an uninvited skunk hiding underneath my porch. On a walk with my little dog during "skunk time" I carried a tin of tomato juice just in case we should get caught in the spray!

There was a heavy storm in 1971 when we couldn't get home from work but managed to find a room in the lovely old Windsor Hotel. We had a lot of fun together with other good-natured storm victims. The same happened during the ice storm of 1998. Why does it all seem so much worse now and no fun at all?

For the elderly the winter months present serious problems. Inadequate public transportation, long line-ups in the ERs, and the frustration, isolation, and general lack of courtesy and respect doesn't contribute to a feeling of well-being.

I fervently hope that by the end of May the snow will have melted, that there will be no floods, that we shall see a green blade of grass and perhaps a confused snowdrop or crocus showing its face.

I can't wait for some soft, short and sweet April showers to get caught in. I shall enjoy every raindrop with a smile and sing.