Waiting for the dog days

[Pups outside Starbuck's, Lexington Center; 9:30am, 2/23/08]

In New England, even during the dog days of August, we're well aware that those steamy temperatures are fleeting. Winters are long and snowy - or, more often recently, sleety-icy. As Lorianne commented in my last post, at least this storm brought snow instead of that poetic-sounding euphemism "wint'ry mix."

My appointment with Maddy was slightly delayed this morning, so I had time to dig my car out from under 10 inches of snow and still get to Lexington with time left over to walk around the corner and up to Peet's to get a coffee (about two doors up from Starbuck's, and around the corner from Dunkin Donuts - this town is well fueled). Most people were still digging out as I passed all the beautiful colonial houses covered in snow in the six miles between my apartment and the salon. Aside from the hearty few in the coffee shops, and their dogs, it was still pretty quiet and open.

It was nice to get outside today, after being cooped up all yesterday working on a nitpicky little project in my drafty home office space during the snowstorm. Yes, the snow is pretty, all the more so as I'm not shivering and cranky. Spring is officially less than a month away, though it'll be more than twice that before we really see any signs of it here. The past few years I've traveled in early spring, twice to Mexico in March and then in late April-early May to Paris last year, and it was lovely. But there's something about suffering here through the entire long winter that makes spring's arrival utterly, intoxicatingly joyful. So I'm waiting like a dog outside a shop, alternately patient and impatient, for the warm weather to arrive.

Comments

[Lorianne]

One of my favorite passages in May Sarton's Plant Dreaming Deep involves her first winter in Nelson, NH. Sarton grew up in Cambridge, MA, so she thought she knew New England winters, but her NH neighbors warned her that northern New England was different. They told her that there would be many times when she'd think that spring had arrived, but she shouldn't believe it until she heard spring peepers. "What are spring peepers," she asked, and the locals told her that long after she'd given up hope that spring would ever arrive, she'd hear a sound like sleigh bells, and then she'd know that she'd made it through her first NH winter.

My favorite passage describes the April (!) night when Sarton hears her first peepers. The feeling she describes is this same intoxicating joy you mention.

[Bob Eggleton]

I can't stand winter about this time. Looks nice around Xmas time and all(although I have been to Xmas in Australia when it's 105 F in the shade at a Xmas pool party and that's another kind of Hell.) But we go through these parabolas of 50-65+ for a few days one week and then plunge into the single digits w/ wind chill the next and then back up.... I still have this sinus/laryngitis thing that I am sure is mostly weather related-goes away on moist, 50-65 plus days, returns on cold ones. Once we get into March I start counting the days to Spring and generally feeling any snow during that time is unfair and past it's due date. Yeah, I hate this kind of weather.

[marja-leena]

We've sometimes had snow here in February, though usually short-lived. Sure does look pretty, and I'm glad you are all well at last! After a miserable winter, we've had a week of mostly sunshine and wonderful warmth often above 10C (50F). The snowdrops are belatedly blooming, as are the early crocuses (croci?). Not that I'm rubbing it in, mind, for the rain threatens again. Spring will come soon!

[zhoen]

Growing up in Detroit, I expected spring to be late, cold, and muddy. I never trusted it until June.

Boston had Wintry Mix, and the rest of the year, Rainfogmist.

[Leslee]

Lorianne: I can only imagine. Only the spring skiers can really enjoy being up in northern New England at that time of year.

Bob: I hear you. The early April snowstorm we had years back killed me. But at least the snow doesn't last long at that time of year. (I still have an ear blockage - driving me crazy. Hope yours clears up soon.)

Marja-Leena: Ah, must be nice to see the crocuses and snowdrops. Signs of spring.

Zhoen: Yeah, I never planted my window boxes here before Memorial Day. I think we get a fair amount of sunny days here all year round, but not as much as you get out in Utah. Enjoy that high desert sun!

[mm]

My mind is still boggled at the length of the New England winter ....