To borrow the title from a play and film of the ’60s, but not on the same subject, I have come to the realization that I am a “Man for All Seasons.” I will attempt to explain.
The sights and sounds of Spring are upon us, as well as the warmer and longer days. To most folks the onset of Spring brings both a physical and emotional “rebirth” from the long days of Winter as we venture out from our caves (homes) and back into the wilds to explore the wonders of nature. The physical rebirth is the process that often involves rediscovering muscle groups that have not been utilized for some time and the emotional rebirth is the process of “pulling” yourself away from the couch or TV. I for one am especially looking forward to water related activities such as canoeing, kayaking and other aquatic sports — sports which I have little enthusiasm for when the thermometer is below 60! Yes, I know this should not be a factor in my enjoyment of these activities, but it is.
So, we move on to my dilemma:
While I look forward to the warmer days of Spring and the even warmer days of Summer to follow – I also have remorse about the passing of Winter. Why, you ask? For starters, to me Winter is a time of “regrouping” from the hectic days of Spring, Summer and Fall — when “taking care of business” means watching over hundreds of acres of lakes and ponds so our customers can enjoy them. While the daily journey during this time period is challenging and rewarding, it can also tax your mental and physical resources. The result is probably very similar to what a river guide feels like after completing a seven-day trip down the Colorado River via the Grand Canyon: Joy in the accomplishment, but relief that it’s over.
The other faces of winter that I will miss are probably too numerous to elucidate but I will offer a sampling of my favorites. On the subtle side of things are the form, textures and colors provided by the trees during a Winter’s hike. The shades of browns, blacks and grays of the stately trees provide a contrasting starkness to the forest’s bare winter landscape that accentuates the visual senses. Once the leaves appear on the trees this feature gets lost in the dominance of the green forest. I shall take the liberty of re-wording a cliché and note that when Spring arrives “You can’t see the forest for the leaves.”
I also must add the Sycamore(Platanus occidentalis) to this category; it seems to show off its glorious wintery white coat of bark the best in the final minutes of sunlight during a cold Winter’s day. Once that is visually experienced, it is not soon forgotten.
Some of my other favorite Winter moments include the usual things like:
- sitting next to a warm fire in the evening after long hours of venturing out in the frigid air,
- the vibrant colors of a winter sunset,
- the aroma of fresh split oak firewood,
- the distinctive smoky flavor that envelopes the olfactory nerves as a result of a campfire just prior to the onset of rain,
- the “calm” of a deserted lake while the wind is howling at your face.
As Winter comes to a close, I will keep these visions in my head and will eagerly await their return. In the meantime I am dreaming of new “wet” adventures and of the sore muscles that will surely follow.
Until next time,
Jim
