Ode to Winter

Many of my regular readers are familiar with my annual “ode to winter” article. Typically in the late fall around the first sprinkle of snow I write an opening for my article about how wonderful the Winter season is. I have over-looked this tradition this year and I wanted to rectify that before the end of the year. First why do I do this? The world today allows us to select the area we live in and find career options in that area. We are in Minnesota not because we are trapped as our former president had said but because we choose to live in the mid-west. We live not in spite of the weather and constant change but because of it. We, as Minnesotans, understand that if we are unhappy about cold weather we will spend most of our lives unhappy. If, however, we choose to rejoice in the change of the seasons and embrace the cold we understand that life will be much better. A former Governor of the State of Minnesota started winter fest in St. Paul in response to another Governor's remarks that it is too cold in the Winter to live in Minnesota. We don't hide from the cold we go out and enjoy it with our snowmobiles, cross-country skis, down hill skis, ice skating, snow angles, snow forts, sledding and so much more. We all like to “complain” about how harsh our weather is, but lets face it, we love it!

The season has brought us Apple Spice, Pumpkins, Pecan pie, the holidays, skiing and snowmobiling. Rejoice for finally the hun-drum days of summer have finally been put to rest. The time of year has come once again for us to all join in with the Dr. Seuss classic “The Grinch” and celebrate winter as the Who's did with a rendition of dah who dor-aze! And remember to “Welcome Christmas while we stand, Heart to Heart and Hand in Hand”.  Lets get out there and enjoy the season, embrace the snow and once again remind ourselves of the beautiful environment in which we have choose to live. dah who dor aze everyone,dah who dor aze!