Winter's Arrival




Our cabin with a winter addition.

                We have been told that the cold has not even arrived yet. The thermometer is dipping into the single digits at night and never surpassing freezing during the day. In our eyes, winter has arrived, but the cold has not?! Recently, Emily and I both shivered into work, shaking off the cold air as we walked into our separate work places. But, we both received the same responses from co-workers, who all are veterans to the interior winters- ‘This isn’t even cold yet!’ they responded usually with a laugh and smirk towards us- the young naïve interior cheechakos. We shrugged it off and accepted the ‘go-with-the-flow’ attitudes we must have as being newcomers to such an extreme weathered place. We both have been told that once our car’s tires freeze and turn to squares, then, and finally then, it is cold.  

We have many swans starting their migration south, which is a beautiful site to see.

                The coldness is here though, and we are beginning to get a sense of what is ahead. There are certain things we must take in consideration now. We have to be careful where we dump water outside, because it will be there for another seven months as ice. I, mainly, have to watch where I pee, because it will be a standing ice-rink of urine for the duration of winter, which is seven months in length if you have forgotten. We have to start plugging in warm wire protectors to keep our pipes from freezing, our cars need wires plugged in to keep their batteries from freezing, and we need layered jackets and pants to even step outside. If we have ever been in search of cold, truly defined cold, we are inevitably in for it.

This is a danger sign at a local trail head.

 Not only is the cold prevalent, the darkness is becoming more evident with each passing sun. The long days of summer seem like ages ago. I think back to even the crisp fall days in September where the daylight was still longer than the night and laugh at our relaxing bliss. We are losing 45 minutes of daylight each week! The saying ‘time flies’ is applicable in this circumstance, but it flies down south. But I remind myself that just like the birds migrations, the sun returns come summer.

For the past month I have been secretly thinking that the extreme cold might not come; the frigid temperatures might bypass Delta this winter. Maybe this will be a winter that changes the norm, I thought. I was beginning to think that October would be free from freeze. As I look at the 10 day forecast, I am aware of my misperceptions. We are here, in the midst of winter’s beginning. Folks throughout town have been preparing, and continue to prepare, for the long winter and they assure us that it will come, and stay. It is hard to imagine the extent of this winter, but time, and many down layers, will prove if we can handle the interior’s winter.     

Another informative sign!