January Thaw in Wyoming

I have a great respect for Mother Nature; regardless of how "we" may complain, I feel She knows exactly what she is doing. Wyomingites are enjoying 50 degree weather this weekend and I am lucky enough to have a 3 day one to boot! Woo Hoo!!

My neighbors and I were sloshing thru the slush most of the day in our shirt sleeves; joking about working on our tans and getting the lawnmowers out. We all know perfectly well that this is the January thaw; more enjoyable and spectacular this winter due to the amount of snow and sub zero weather. We all laugh, knowing quite well that this is merely nature’s version of a few days reprieve as we will soon be back to winter that will most likely include an equinox storm to give us something to talk about; like the one in ’84.

Reminiscing about storms gone by and how we survived! The one in ’84 does bring back good memories, yet make be tired. There were 70 to 80 trucks stranded off I90 and the old Husky Truck Stop & Kozy Korner Kafe. A small 24 hour joint staffed only by the boss, one dedicated waitress and a host of truckers that seemed to enjoy themselves playing waitress and dishwasher. The winds howled and I had to call only for more hamburgers to be delivered from our local meat market; we were stocked up on everything else. The delivery was made by snow machine as the roads were buried under 5 to 14 foot drifts. By the third day, the locals were all snow machining, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in for lunch as we were the only place open. Exhausting, but exhilarating! Just one of my own winter survival stories; It is a fact: I am becoming my parents!!

Maybe that is why Mother Nature and Creator bless us with weather; to give us challenges to overcome by pulling together, laughing at our powerlessness and looking back in success and gratitude.

2009

My eyes look on the New Year with gratitude and hope. Every year, I wonder how I will handle the holiday season, so I guess it is appropropriate to share how I did. One of the benefits of surviving a few decades in this life, is that I have faith that whatever is happening or I am feeling will change. As 'they' say in my circles: "this to shall pass". Despite my efforts, whether positive or negative, life changes. This simple rule has enabled me to trudge thru some challenging times, while pausing to enjoy the good ones a bit more.

So many years, the holidays have been spent in depression. No pity or sympathy needed from readers that may not know who I am. These depressions, combined with a deep desire to live and a awesome Guiding Spirit, have always resulted in growth. Prior to 1987, I endured (as did anyone that really wanted to be or had to be around me) during these dark times. I spent days to months hiding out and, to some extent, feeling sorry for myself. This self-pity served a purpose; I think I resisted suicidal action (most of the time) hoping someone else would show up to feel as sorry for me as I felt for myself. Just typing this now makes me smile - progress is good! Each depression since the Big One of '89, have only raised my level of understanding of myself. As I am reminded by a dear friend, I once stated "this is the best depression I've ever had" at one point.

This year can only be labeled as a "slump" that I am walking thru, again. With gratitude I can say that I am so much better off than many others. I have a roof over my head; a life and career that allow me to live my personal mission statement and share the vision of hope; plus a second job that covers my dental bills and time to pursue my passion of beading bracelets and more. It is amazing what just pausing a few times during the Christmas Season to mentally make a gratitude list did to help me thru the slump.

Sharing this with everyone or no one (as the case may be with this blog, eh?) is refreshing and revitalizing and allows me to sincerely wish all readers that may or may not be there: "Happy New Year and may you be blessed with fulfilling lessons that energize you with the strenght to trudge thru 2009."