How does the season affect me? Well, I’m now an old man with memories of glorious days in the past and also memories of hardship and disappointments in the past. I choose not to dwell on the disappointments.

I remember the exhilarating and boisterous activities of romping in the snow banks and sliding precariously across the frozen puddles. We don’t have any ponds, lakes, or streams in my neighborhood, so puddles had to do. I remember the excitement and anticipation of Christmas presents. We didn’t get many and what we got were shared with all our siblings or guests, who might enjoy them, too. We didn’t get any mundane clothing items that were needed whether it was Christmas time or 4th of July. And, they weren’t items that we might be able to badger mom or dad into buying for us, as we walked down the aisles of the 5 & 10 stores. Mom and dad weren’t the badgering kind. We didn’t get many toys and we learned to take care of what we got. The toy truck that lost a wheel didn’t wind up in the trash pile. Our imagination could make a cheap rubber imitation of a pick up truck into a powerful semi-tractor-trailer full of livestock. And, incidentally, those livestock were usually handpicked rocks that we could count, trade, haul to market or bring home from the market. A scrap of 2x4 wood served as a barn and a line scratched in the dust could be our fence. We learned to fashion a hitch to pull a piece of scrap iron or even a broken branch behind a tractor, fashioned from a worn out sprocket off a piece of machinery. We learned the valuable benefit of innovation and imagination. We had to learn to use our imagination and makeshift abilities, because the reality was those things were not physically available to us.

My old eyes can still marvel at the beauty of the sparkling ice cycles, frosty patterns on the windows, fences, and even the nostrils of the outdoor animals. But, I’ve long since ceased to enjoy bundling up and venturing out into a cold blustery blizzard. I remember being allowed to go out into those storms and observe the beautiful formations of snow drifts that resembled delicious swirls of whipped cream or ice cream. We were allowed to experience the pain of cold, even frost bite, and to enjoy the warmth and comfort of a warm hearth and heart, when we returned from our adventures. I knew every inch of the farmstead and had been taught to respect the dangers that lurked about for a kid my age and size. I knew that I was not to venture out without knowing how to get back. I was permitted to learn my limitations and accept some responsibility for myself.

I remember the misery and discomfort of having to brave the elements to do chores, clear driveways, etc. I didn’t always appreciate those times, but I learned if I was to be privileged to enjoy the benefits of nature, human companionship, etc. I had to accept responsibility.

My old bones, since ol’ man Arthritis moved in, don’t cotton to the cold. I don’t look forward to the crisp cold and clean fresh air of a December morning. I don’t enjoy running out of breath as I hurry and scurry about, to get done what I want to do. I’ve learned to judiciously choose my activities to fit my capabilities (most times, maybe?). When I don’t choose properly is when g’ma, the kids, g’kids and even the g’g’kids lovingly or even forcefully rescue me.

I love life and I choose to let live and let others enjoy life in their own way and their own time. When my time has come and I’ve reached the maturity or ripeness that God intends, I’m ready for His harvest and to go home to that place in God’s presence that my faith leads me to look forward to. I’m a gonna live till I die and I don’t intend to be on the road if I ain’t goin somewhere. And I intend for people to know I’m here, like me or not!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, or just plain Hi, have a good day and get out there and enjoy life. Stop the bickering, incriminating judgment of others and accept others as your brothers and sisters in the human species. Give more than you take, love more than you are loved, forgive more than you are forgiven, light a candle in someone else’s space. Whatever your faith, religion, or station in life; strive to make tomorrow a better day than today, for yourself and others.