Winter warrior or winter wimp?

Perhaps it is because I didn’t grow up in Canada and didn’t learn to skate, ski or whatever to make the most of the winter weather, but I really don’t do well in the winter.

Oh, when we first emigrated to Canada I did try my hand at cross-country skiing and signed up for lessons. I was so bad, and spent so much time just falling over and having to push myself back on my feet, that the instructor advised me to pack it in. Clearly this was not my calling.

That coupled with the fact that I am a nervous driver in good weather, never mind the treacherous days of winter, has meant that when there’s a freezing rain warning, I immediately stay indoors, not wanting to risk my life on the roads.

Clearly my local UPS driver is not a winter risk-taker either because he didn’t drive up to our front door with some parcels recently. Now in fairness, we live on a farm and it’s a long driveway and he has no way to know that he won’t get stuck or has room to turn around. He does. However, he was quite innovative. He left a note in our mailbox advising that he’d left our parcels in a plastic bag tied to a tree.

It just so happened that it was early evening when I got home so there I was in the dark trying to find our packages. He’d arranged it so the bag did not touch the snow but he’d secured it so tightly to the tree that I couldn’t undo it. In the end, I just ripped the bag apart, and determined I would go back in daylight to remove the plastic bag☺

The next morning, I walked down our driveway, armed with scissors. At first I was going to put them in my pocket, but then I decided that with my luck, I would fall and impale myself. So instead, I marched down the driveway holding the scissors up high, like a warrior waving a sword or weapon. But kudos to the driver for being creative. He did his job and delivered the goods.

Rather than battle it out with winter, I have already booked my trip to Florida. The thought of warm sun is going to keep me going over the months ahead.