That's the phrase our Sunday celebrant last week used at the beginning of his homily, "I for one have to say, it's really great to have a good old-fashioned winter"! The assembly howled as we all knew that we had just had 2" overnight and I knew that that had put our snow season over 80".
I would say that people who live on the southern shores of the Great Lakes, where the Canadian winds come over the waters and the icy dunes for 3-4 months, are pretty resilient, patient people. But by mid-February and certainly into early March, our longing for bluer skies, warmer winds and sunnier days is becoming a reality that cannot be denied.
Our community is faring pretty well from what I see, but the "Febs" are certainly with us: we have a few colds and miscellaneous respiratory viruses floating around; we have sighs and groans with another round of clearing snow-covered cars every morning,; and don't even get me started on dry air, which means dry skin, dry coughs and cracked fingers! Yikes...it's no time for sissies, I can tell you.
But, as you know from last week's post, the Eagles won the Super Bowl, March madness is just around the college basketball corner, and although we relish liturgical Ordinary Time, our thoughts are beginning to turn to the upcoming Lenten season with its weeks of once-a-year hymns, prayers and readings.
So, we are grateful for it all and hope that the winding down of winter, whatever that look is for you, is coming along, too.
Amidst all of this, let us all continue to lift up our prayers and our local actions for a country of justice, peace, equality and care for all people who live here and all peoples everywhere who share these dreams with us.
