Cold weather has finally started to arrive. In local terms, a “Blue North’er” has come and taken away the warm temperatures.
I think it is natural to view the end of warm temperatures as an annual misfortune to the average Texas Tech student, but I hope this article can bring new perspective on the many ways the cold weather is actually a blessing in disguise.
One of the obvious benefits is it forces the sorority girls to dress in “more weather-appropriate clothing.” Those Sherpa boots become practical again, but she must also put away those awkward shorts with adjectives in the back or at least wear leggings along with them. This is a blessing to everyone, especially to those who would normally have to see those girls in warm weather.
The weather brings the change in the leave that makes Lubbock beautiful for at least a week. I have always liked the trees that turn a bright maroon color. The grass will turn golden in conjunction with the trees and the whole environment tends to shift dramatically in color. This makes the walk from the Math building to the University Library and beyond to 19th Street absolutely beautiful, and I have heard the harder freezes in October cause deeper color shifts in autumn.
The cold weather is also an excuse to have hot chocolate every night. To spice up normal hot chocolate, try adding cinnamon, vanilla and chocolate chips to the normal mix. This is a local recipe called “Mexican Hot Chocolate” and tastes a little like a horchata drink mixed with chocolate. You can always have cider too, which is certainly a drink the original settlers of the Plains would have enjoyed.
The cold brings a good excuse for hoodies and Eskimo coats, heavy blankets to sleep in and mittens to wear on cold mornings. With colder weather, the options for outdoor activity are limited, but new opportunities are also brought. I remember one particularly cold and wet October when my brother and I found excuse to build a “Snowman’s House of Horrors” from Calvin and Hobbes fame. Although proving shocking to the neighbors, this was an especially good way to vent our creativity into a not-so destructive medium.
We should face the truth: Cold weather does not make it as much fun to be outside.
However, those brave souls willing to face the weather can be rewarded. One of the best winter activities is to feed bread to the geese that come for winter in Lubbock. Another option is to go see the largest wintering flock of Sandhill Cranes in the nation, which annually gathers in the Wildlife Refuge near Muleshoe, only an hour and a half from Lubbock.
We should capitalize on the nature’s call to go indoors. Cuddling up with your sweetheart and a good book is always a pleasant way to spend the evening. Also, one of the local hits this time of year is the Corn Maize on the way to Shallowater. Getting lost with a group of friends in this maze of maize is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Here’s the point: It is very easy to find fault and blame circumstance. Some might say, “I would be happy if only I lived somewhere else” or, “I would be happier if it were warm outside.” However, this sort of complaining is not productive and refuses to produce more favorable conditions. My suggestion is we all try to find joy in life and not choose to be miserable due to conditions we cannot control.
1 comments