How do you feel about cold weather? – The writing prompt today has hit a nerve. Luckily we are entering the warm weather seasons so I can brush this question off after I answer it, and not get depressed at the thought of being cold.

I despise the cold weather. I rant about cold weather to friends and family. I dread the winter season. I hate wearing lots of clothes. I get chilled easily and I hate shivering. I’m getting too old to shovel snow in the freezing cold. Normal activities, going to the store, getting gas, going to the mailbox become unpleasant.

The cold dry weather dries my skin. My lips get chapped, my body aches more and the lack of sunlight and being outside puts me in less-than-optimal spirits. And of course, the cold weather ushers in the flu and other seasonal bugs that spread like wildfire because we’re all stuck inside because of the cold.

There is even a term now (isn’t there one for everything) for this called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I’m no expert at it. It doesn’t make me sad; it makes me mad. I get hostile about the cold. I curse it if I must go outside and it’s very cold.

The amount of wildlife I get to see diminishes.

And the ultimate reason I HATE cold weather. It makes riding with the top down on my car very uncomfortable.

My friends and I refer to the cold as THE Hawk. My friends say to me “embrace The Hawk” because they love the winter season. I curse them and look forward to teasing them all summer as they complain about having to sweat.

I do find beauty in each season. I will concede the following good points about cold weather.

The night sky is beautiful but it’s too cold to stay outside long enough to enjoy it.

The air is crisp and clear. So much so it seems to refresh my lungs.

The quiet after snow always causes me to smile and want to whisper if I speak.