Yesterday on my radio station of choice the call-in subject was how to cope with November. Sigh.
November: that dark and cloudy month; that in-between time after the colours of Fall and the beginning of the Snow; the start of the ever-darkening evenings; that pre-Christmas February.
Funny how the two hardest (for many) months of the year are also two of the shortest - small graces. I remember when I first found out that I was pregnant with Joseph I did the math and came up with a due date of November 24th ... and I was disappointed.
"Oh, the poor child, "I thought, " maybe he'll make it to December."
But he didn't and was born two days short of the Christmas month. His birth changed November for me (slightly) as I now had something to celebrate in the midst of the greyness; but it does take 28 days until we eat birthday cake.
Despite my lament, the first few days of November have been decidedly un-November like. Although the temperature hasn't risen above 5 degrees (Celsius) it hasn't fallen below the freezing mark either. As well it has been surprisingly sunny and bright for the last three days. During our morning walk, I said a quiet prayer of thanksgiving for the beauty of the day and then I looked at the road and saw a snowplough ... followed by a second snowplough. Sigh.
4 comments:
An old friend of mine (Janet) used to make her own day-planner every year, just so she could make one slight alteration: an October with 61 days, and NO November. Not a bad idea.
I've been enjoying the complete absence of snow so far, but a friend of ours here works as a contractor in nice weather, and a snow-removal technician during the winter. For his sake, I'll pray for lots of snow in his town - and none in yours or mine.
This is probably going to come out sounding all wrong and braggy and I don't mean it that way (wait till my point at the end), but I used to hate november too until I moved to Texas. Now I feel like it is my payback (finally) for June, July and August, those months when I HEAR about people playing outside with their children but cannot actually do it myself because it would be hazardous to their health.
You could always celebrate your brother in law's birthday on november 16 and eat some cake in his honour since he can't have sugar. Just a thought.
And this from the little girl who loved winter and loved snow .....
it's all different when you're the mom!
Elena it's so funny you should call November the pre-Christmas February. I was thinking these exact words a few days ago as I put up my saint calendar cards (the one you guys have too). I notices St Lawrence O'Toole's feast falls this month. So maybe you could have a party in honour of him and hit up St. Larry's church for a plenary indulgence.
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