Two Roads Through Winter

The Road Not Taken

BY Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

There are at least two roads through winter-

One road leads to a joyful sense of spaciousness, calm and quiet. Parking places, dinner reservations (or no need for one), cool clear bay and ocean waters, beautiful cloud designs and sunsets. A comfortable hibernation, rest and renewal, a fire in the fireplace, a stack of books by the bedside. Stews and soups and hot chocolate with real whipped cream.

The other road leads to dread and discontentment - short days, long nights, gray skies. Ice on the windshield, scraper in hand, gloves and jackets and long underwear. A shortage of sunshine, smiles and vitamin D. Shivering, shuddering – tired and crabby. Raise your hand if that sounds like you.

It’s funny though, now that summers to many are just barely bearable – overcrowded and overrun -there seems to be more winter converts- off-season devotees- people who prefer the spaciousness more than the weather. The cold plunge which allows us to see not only the bones of the trees but also the vestiges or bones of the village the way it used to be – the way it was when we were growing up. A parking place in front of the IGA is enough to melt some of that winter frost away.

Full disclosure, I do love the snow -and get a bit riled by news anchors frothing on about their dislike of it-I think perhaps there should be some kind of rule- or regulation- about them not disclosing their weather preferences. Let us all make up our own minds and enjoy what comes. Send us out at the end of your broadcast with a bit of joyful anticipation – rather than your nightly displeasure with winter weather conditions-cause next, you’ll be disappointed by the heat. Maybe, just maybe, newscasters should be dispensing, at the very least, equal amounts of gladness and joy into the airwaves.

Just a week or two into winter and we’ve already started hoping for spring- looking for signs beyond the heart napkins at the checkout in TJ Maxx. That seasonal carrot on a stick. When do we start listening for the ‘peepers’, looking for snowdrops and crocuses, shedding at least one layer of dismal. Nope, we’ve got quite a bit of winter ahead.

There can be plenty of winter triage, care and management. Long walks on the ocean and maybe even a beach chair, book and blanket on sunnier days. A stop for a chai tea latte along the way to accompany your winter walk. Collecting bird calls on your Merlin Bird ID app and watching this active season at your feeders. There are movies at our state-of-the-art cinema, lots happening at our local libraries and theaters and churches and cultural landmarks. There are so many books to catch up on, interests to explore, music to listen to, recipes to try - because before you know it the pace of summer will resume. There is no benefit to wishing time away-it will pass regardless-so why not fill it up with wonder and soulful acceptance of the very moment we are standing in. We very well could be the clever masters of our fate-the comic strip in our Sunday paper-the shifting sands in our hour glass-the sweet honey in our tea.

So, I’m wondering…..which road will you choose?

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

(Robert Frost 1915)