I just keep reminding myself with three simple words: “We were due.”
“We were due” to have a pretty fierce cold snap at some point, not just in this area but across the province. “We were due” to have temperatures drop to the point of being -25 from a technical standpoint, but actually being -35 or even -40 with the windchill. “We were due” to have air that basically burns our face, leading us to ask why we live in a part of the world where the cold air burns our face.
Speaking from a weather standpoint, I think we had it pretty good during November and December, especially the latter. I was actually worried that it wouldn’t be much of a white Christmas, but lo and behold, I woke up on December 25 to find that Conquest had been blanketed with a fresh coat of snow.
We had it pretty good through the holidays and even for a week or so into the new year, but then, almost like clockwork, Saskatchewan as a whole was basically dropped into a giant deep freeze. (Is that a frozen roast I see…?)
In times like these, your mind has a tendency to wander, and in this case, it’s wandering right into warmer temperatures during another time of the year that’s months down the road.
I know it seems far off to even think about spring or summer, but I’m going to simply float it out there in the hope that time will fly by even faster than normal, and that instead of thinking about drinking the hottest of hot beverages, it’ll soon be time to stock up on cold drinks that’ll be sweating in the summer heat.
I can hear most of you just salivating at the thought of it. Hey, I’m right there with ya!
If we’re going to be stuck in the deep freeze that is known as mid-January to roughly the end of February on the Prairies, then I’m going to think warmer thoughts and transfer my mind and spirit to months ahead on the calendar.
Friends, it’s like I’m already there.
Instead of freezing in weather that feels like -40, I’m actually wiping beads of sweat off my brow as the hot July sun bakes the top of my head while I’m lounging on the back deck. A cold drink is to my right, my shades shield my eyes from the piercing daylight, and a good book is in my hands.
Instead of hitting the remote start and warming up my Ford Escape for 15-20 minutes each day, or sometimes even multiple times on those days where the temperatures are bitterly low, I’m not even worrying about it. I’m good to go at the drop of a hat. Something I’ve got to go cover? Hop in and go, no warming up period required. Jump in, crank that A/C, or even open up the sunroof and hit the open road.
Instead of wearing warm clothes such as thick socks and my sheep-lined trucker jacket, I’m wearing a Metallica t-shirt, light fabric shorts and a pair of flip-flops. Away with the gloves and the toques, it’s time to remove some layers and let things get good and breezy. Every day is Casual Friday when it’s summertime, man!
Instead of covering winter-centric events such as the endless amount of hockey that goes on, I’m headed to the ball diamonds to watch some baseball during the late-spring/early-summer evenings. Throngs of people with lawn chairs lined up to catch the action, snacking on sunflower seeds and ice cream while keeping hydrated, and almost everyone with shades pulled down over their eyes.
Instead of focusing on hearty soups and stews that stick to your ribs and keep you warm and full in cold temperatures, I’m thawing out some thick and juicy steaks and prepping to lay them on the grill outside. Pair them with some asparagus and perhaps some shrimp, and you’ve got yourself some sweet summertime dining. Maybe I’ll even eat it outside.
Instead of simply dreaming of what to do in the outdoors this summer, I’m already doing it, man. I’ve got my camera gear and I’m taking photos in all sorts of places. I’m sitting on the beach up at Candle Lake and watching the sunset in the west. I’m fishing down at Lake Diefenbaker. I’m enjoying my surroundings and the comfortable heat that comes along with it.
Yea yeah, I know. I know it’s still cold out, the driveway probably needs another shovel job, and we’re likely to get a hearty handful of fresh snowfall in the coming weeks, but sometimes you’ve just gotta think warm! That’s right; deny that to which you’re currently surrounded! If you ignore it, it’ll go away – the denier’s motto!
For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.
