Spring in Muskoka, Too Early

THE SPRING BEFORE ITS DAY -

MUSKOKA AS WALDEN

I FEEL GUILTY ACTUALLY. BEING IMMERSED IN A NON-WINTER IS KIND OF STRANGELY WONDERFUL, BUT THEN I'M TALKING MORE ABOUT ECONOMICS AND INHERENT HARDSHIPS WE'VE BEEN, AT LEAST PARTIALLY, SPARED IN THE WINTER SEASON OF 2011-2012. WHETHER IT IS GLOBAL WARMING OR NOT, IT IS A REALITY THAT SHOULD MAKE US A LITTLE NERVOUS, IN BETWEEN BOUTS OF EUPHORIA AT NOT HAVING TO SHOVEL FOR AN HOUR, JUST TO GET THE CAR OUT. OR HAVING TO WORRY THAT THE SEVERE COLD WILL FREEZE-UP THE PLUMBING. I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN, AND IT TAKES YEARS OFF ONE'S LIFE. THANK GOODNESS IT HASN'T HAPPENED FREQUENTLY.

AS A WRITER, I THRIVE ON THIS VIEW FROM HERE. I WRITE DAILY, SO THIS PORTAL ONTO THE HINTERLAND, INFLUENCES JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN MY DAY. IF IT IS SOMBRE AND RAINY, I CAN WELL EXPECT THE OUTCOME AT THE KEYBOARD, WILL SIDE ON THE MELANCHOLY MORE SO THAN THE HILARIOUS. I LOVE TO SIT DOWN HERE AND WRITE DURING A WINTER STORM, OR TO WATCH A LIGHT SNOWFALL, MAKING BIRCH HOLLOW A SUBTLY ENCHANTING LITTLE PLACE AMIDST THE SNOW-ADORNED FOREST. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I SUPPOSE ONE MUST EMBRACE THE IDEA THAT THE WINTERS ARE LESS SEVERE, OVER THE LONG HAUL OF MONTHS, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE OF GLOBAL CONTAMINATION, AND SUBSEQUENT WARMING. IT IS NICE WHEN WE CAN PUT IT OUT OF MIND, SUCH AS WHEN YOU CAN ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING OUTSIDE, WEARING ONLY A SWEATER, INSTEAD OF HEAVY COATS AND MITTS, JUST TO STAVE OFF BEING FROZEN TO DEATH ON YOUR OWN LANE.

NATURE IS SUFFERING, I'M SURE OF THAT. WHAT WE ENJOY NOW, OF A MILDER WINTER, ISN'T JUST THE RESULT OF OCEAN CURRENTS. THE HUGE FLUCTUATIONS AND WIDE ARRAY OF SUDDEN AND SEVERE WEATHER, IS OF CONSIDERABLE SIGNIFICANCE. AS A YOUNGSTER, WHILE I ALWAYS ENJOYED THE ANNUAL WINTER THAW, IT DIDN'T HANG ON FOR A MONTH. WE HAD COLD WEATHER FOR WEEKS AND WEEKS WITHOUT RESPITE. NOW IT'S THE SWINGS OF WEATHER, ALL OVER THE GLOBE, THAT SHOULD MAKE US ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE. SNOW IN ATHENS. DEATHLY COLD IN EUROPE. FOUR BLIZZARDS IN LESS THAN A WEEK ON THE EAST COAST.

I WILL ENJOY THIS TODAY, BUT I WILL FEAR FOR TOMORROW. AND THAT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL TO THE CESSATION OF GLOBAL WARMING, BUT ALAS I'M A MORTAL….WHO RECYCLES AND COMPOSTS, AND WOULD NEVER THINK OF CUTTING DOWN A TREE OR SHRUB THAT WASN'T FAILING ANYWAY. THIS REQUIRES A LOT OF BACK-TRACKING TO SOLVE, IF IT CAN BE SOLVED AT ALL.