Winter Blahs

Most days, it's hard for me to get out of bed, not because I'm old and feeble but because I feel tremendous sadness in the morning. I'm usually able to shake it by the time I've slid Buckaroo's bowl of oatmeal across the table, but some days not.

I know what I need: exercise, poetry, a dose of love, vitamin D, maybe a smidge of therapy, and warm makes-ya-happy-to-be-alive sunshine. The latter is not forthcoming anytime soon, according to the weather report. What's a mama to do? Muddle through.

Reading with the kidlets is a mood booster for everyone in the house, though, so we do it often. Sweet P and I are still reading Little Women, and I just finished reading Charlotte's Web to Buckaroo. In Charlotte's farewell speech to Wilbur, I found a tidbit of wisdom to carry me through the white days:

"Winter will pass, the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy, Wilbur--this lovely world, these precious days."

Amen, Charlotte.

Summer may be a distant speck on the horizon, but, inshallah, when it arrives I'll be around to see it.