Changing seasons

Jim Cumming
Publisher

I realized that winter is almost behind us this past week. That notion struck me as I left work last Tuesday and headed home at the end of the day.
There was still daylight in the sky.
I personally detest going to work in darkness and coming home in darkness. One or the other isn’t bad, but together I seem to find it somewhat depressing.
Now usually from the third week in November, people start lighting up their yards with outdoor lighting in the spirit of Christmas. As I walk home my two blocks, those cheery lights brighten my spirits and the darkness is removed from the night. I know that the days are getting shorter and somehow the lights on homes remove some of the darkness.

We reach the solstice of the year, and then pass through to the new year. The outdoor lights are now turned off and the two block walk home is shrouded in darkness. The snow banks build up. Snow swirls and cars are often only seen as two head lights as they approach and pass you on their hurried business. Bundled, as a walker you appear no more than a silhouette.
But last Tuesday as I walked home, I realized that we had turned the corner on winter. Light still appeared above the night at the end of the business day. And walking home, a car I recognized beeped its horn in greeting for the owner recognized me even in my bundled state. That was the difference that the daylight made.

Now winter is still likely to spread itself over the next two months of the year, but the daylight will increase, and we will be granted relief from winter with warming spells. And on some days when the wind stands still, and the clouds disappear we will experience the heat of the sun as it rises higher in the sky each day.

There will be other signs that winter is coming to an end. The fishing and seed catalogues along with the Sears Spring and Summer catalogues have already arrived. Our home building centres across the Rainy River District are already promoting spring and summer home renovations. Young couples are choosing wedding stationery in anticipation of spring and summer weddings. Those too are the signs that winter is ending. The district is again coming alive.
There are also posters going up for special events and community winter festivals.

The newspaper will write about many events over the next few months including community winter festivals, music and drama festivals that all occur in the next two months. If your organization or community is hosting an event, please let us know either by contacting the Record at 852-3366.
Jim Cumming can be reached
via email at jcumming@fortfrances.com