January Summer

Eastern Fort Bliss, Texas

Winter has completely settled into much of the United States. Barrow, Alaska, was still in the dark. Atlanta, Georgia, shut down from a storm that moved up over the eastern seaboard. Dixon, Missouri, met a blizzard, and even Tulsa, Oklahoma, was throwing snowballs. The Midwest and Great Planes were in a deep freeze that made a new daily record of cold in northern Minnesota -46 degrees Fahrenheit. Even southern California was hanging tight to anything staked down for fear of blowing away in the Santa Ana winds. But in El Paso, Texas, summer had hit.

I am writing about today’s hike sporting a mild sunburn. I admit—wearing sunscreen on my shoulders in January seems like something only tropical vacationers need to do. Just last weekend when we hiked here, I wore a wool hat and gloves. This time I wore my fleece for only the first two miles before giving into hiking sleeveless.

Most of my previous Januarys include at least a little snow on my front lawn or frost on the windshields. I adore traditional winter days when school cancels and businesses close. Those are the times to sled and snowshoe, then come home to peel off layers of wet, snowy clothing, leaving little puddles of melted boot tread snow before settling in front of a wood fire with hot chocolate.

I sure didn’t miss any of that today, though! One winter pleasure is spring’s tease. Spring carries a sense of hope, indicating longer days, sprouting plants, and infant animals. I enjoyed that sense and absorbed all I could—or maybe I was just high on so much vitamin D!

It’s likely that you, my reader, are snowed in and hunkering down to last out the cold once the novelty of snow games wear off, but have faith. Warmer and brighter days will see you ahead.

Spiked Oasis