TWTWTW 2006.07 Reasons to celebrate

At the finish line of this work week, as an Alberta Clipper approached, the weatherman was quizzed about semantics. Have we just suffered through a cold snap, a cold wave or a cold spell? When does a snap turn into a wave, a wave into a spell?

Seventeen consecutive days with temperatures twenty degrees below average. Furnaces are under strain, sewage systems freeze and need steaming, repairmen rely on voice mail, nerves frizzle, freeze and frazzle.

Then the stress of a midweek holiday. As always Marlys comes to the last minute rescue of many men who stand in line in her store with their pickups parked outside running, heaters going full blast inside their trucks to warm up the cab so the South American roses won't freeze before they get home.

What do we do when temperatures stay so far below zero so long? Our senses are deprived. We crave fats and sugars, liquid types of anti-freeze. We are congested. We sneeze, cough, throw up. We attend District REA meetings, bring home Thermos bottle door prizes. We struggle with our exercise regimens. We talk about Bridges (or was it Muddy Moose) re-opening under new management. We dream of that large Turtle Mocha at Riverside Coffee. The sign reminds us they are still on winter break, still for sale. We squint as we try to read the new digital video sign straddling the corner of Pelican Drug. The SUV behind us honks that the light has turned green. We condole the family of a fifty-one year old farmer, who had a heart attack in the barn. We bury a Norwegian who lived to be a hundred. We wonder what 2.5 megawatt German Windmills look like and if we want one or not. We throw the long johns in the wash as we wonder about what to give up for Lent and worry about how high the heat bill will be next month.

At week's end, for a change, the wind comes up from the south, the clouds come in, the temperature rises, the Clipper slides off to the southwest, Monster Sunfish come up for air, dressed to the nines for Mardi Gras. People unzip. A mirage of the North Lida Mermaid appears through the cloud of wood smoke.

As we enter the Year of the Golden Pig let's do a stir fry and party. The coming year is supposed to bring good luck and prosperity to the world.

Wednesday it's back to soup and sandwiches.