After two weeks of very cold (at least for the south and acclimatized southerners like myself) temperatures, I am really really missing my daily dose of vitamin D.... as in, my sun time.
My induction into the awesome southern climate started in college, when I realized with glee that I could get some color in February! I distinctly remember sitting out on the porch of my dorm, (they are totally enclosed) in February, wearing my *very modest* bathing suit, reading my seminar, and glorying in the warmth of the rays...
Fast forward a year and 3 months after graduation, newly married, and newly moved to the very humid climate of North Texas. I died that first summer, it was brutal. But I fell in love with fall, winter, and especially spring. That first Christmas I remember driving to the airport on our way "back home" to Canada, and it was 85 degrees. I hesitated before boarding the plane.
As the years went by, I grew more accustomed to summer. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that out of 10 summers here, I've been pregnant for 5 of them. No joke. All of my kids have been born in July, August, September and November. (It stays hot until October here) Talk about trial by fire. 105 degrees is hard to take no matter who you are, but with an internal oven roasting you 24/7, it was brutal.
But now I am used to it. Really really used to it. My blood must be thinner now. And my psyche needs it. I step outside to get the mail, and immediately, I turn my face toward the sun and soak in the warmth for a few seconds until the wind picks up and sends me scurrying indoors.
Today, I am grateful. The temperature climbed to the high 50's, and I was able to enjoy 20 minutes with my book and a hot cup of tea.
And, of course, my friend, my ally, my sanity.... sunshine.
:)
3 comments:
I have lived in TX all my life and am quite spoiled by the lack of severely cold winters. Once it hits the 40s I long for the steaming hot days of summer. I would be miserable anywhere else I think.
We get a lot of sunshine here in Colorado too. The temps do drop quite a bit during the winter but the sun is out more than 300 days per year--on average.
It's no fun being pregnant in the summer (I have late June, August and September kids...and my May baby came after a really hot April). But every summer I look eagerly to the cooler temperatures of fall...and every fall, when it is gray and rainy and in the 40s, I wonder why I looked forward to this! Bottom line: I want it to be in the 80s during the day and to go down to the 50s at night, making the morning and evening perfect. Did you hear that God?
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