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trystinnMark Twain's immortal words, if you were wondering where you've heard that before.
My father is a Weather Channel addict, much to Mum's horror I assure you. I've always made fun of him, but then again he begins every phone conversation with in depth knowledge about your weather and asks how you're coping with it. Now I realize that there's something to be said about getting more concerned about the weather as you age. Our bodies react so differently to the weather as we age from migraines, aches & pains, joints, chillbains, etc. and that's not even counting what it does to your spirit. And it only gets worse each day you're on the planet. I never knew anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder until I moved to Washington, yet now I'm hanging out with friends under their special lights and not thinking twice about it. Even considered getting one for the living room a time or two.
I've seen all kinds by now; tornadoes in MA, ice storms in VT, blizzards in Brooklyn, Nor'Easters on Long Island, munsoons in Arizona, El Ninos, La Ninas, heatwaves in Germany, the London fog, hurricanes in NYC and droughts just about everywhere. And yet, I've never been more affected by them than I am now. Just driving home from work tonight I passed the Tsunami Route signs and shuddered. Walking across the yard and your shoeprints are immediately back-filled with water, the ground is so saturated. There is no dirt, its all mud. Even the bookstore's roof is leaking and I spent hours moving books away from the leaking wall and cover the wood bookcases with tarps this afternoon. Back at home, took two men working all day today to prop up the fence from both sides and make sure the tarp is lashed down tightly over the center of the rabbit enclosure. With temperatures below freezing expected for a week, I'm already mulling over how we're going to handle it.
As a grandchild of farmers & orchard keepers, I stand in awe at my ancestors and how they managed to keep themselves and their property taken care of.
My father is a Weather Channel addict, much to Mum's horror I assure you. I've always made fun of him, but then again he begins every phone conversation with in depth knowledge about your weather and asks how you're coping with it. Now I realize that there's something to be said about getting more concerned about the weather as you age. Our bodies react so differently to the weather as we age from migraines, aches & pains, joints, chillbains, etc. and that's not even counting what it does to your spirit. And it only gets worse each day you're on the planet. I never knew anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder until I moved to Washington, yet now I'm hanging out with friends under their special lights and not thinking twice about it. Even considered getting one for the living room a time or two.
I've seen all kinds by now; tornadoes in MA, ice storms in VT, blizzards in Brooklyn, Nor'Easters on Long Island, munsoons in Arizona, El Ninos, La Ninas, heatwaves in Germany, the London fog, hurricanes in NYC and droughts just about everywhere. And yet, I've never been more affected by them than I am now. Just driving home from work tonight I passed the Tsunami Route signs and shuddered. Walking across the yard and your shoeprints are immediately back-filled with water, the ground is so saturated. There is no dirt, its all mud. Even the bookstore's roof is leaking and I spent hours moving books away from the leaking wall and cover the wood bookcases with tarps this afternoon. Back at home, took two men working all day today to prop up the fence from both sides and make sure the tarp is lashed down tightly over the center of the rabbit enclosure. With temperatures below freezing expected for a week, I'm already mulling over how we're going to handle it.
As a grandchild of farmers & orchard keepers, I stand in awe at my ancestors and how they managed to keep themselves and their property taken care of.
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somewhat scattered reply but weather reminds me of some of my favorite rants.
Date: 2007-01-08 05:15 pm (UTC)Weather of late IS getting worse in a lot of places - from reviewing family history. But these days we're also badly setup to handle emergencies. We're a lot more tied to place than once was. My father, for instance, can duplicate most of his tools and shop given an axe and a couple of other portable tools + the metal parts.
We're also more pushed by finances than once was - it used to be a hard winter would just challenge food for the next year and could be weathered.... now there's all kinds of financial hardship in the mix.
I don't know about other stuff but farming, fishing and other "base" professions WERE a lot better in the old days.... and folks were more prepared both physically and mentally. These days however we've got a lot better medicine...
oh - and klompen (Dutch wooden shoes) are GREAT in mucky soil. They don't really stay dirty and your feet stay warm and dry *grin*
Re: somewhat scattered reply but weather reminds me of some of my favorite rants.
Date: 2007-01-08 08:42 pm (UTC)I've never worn Klompen, though they have a rubber version available at the Cenex I may give a try. Thanks for the idea.
Re: somewhat scattered reply but weather reminds me of some of my favorite rants.
Date: 2007-01-08 11:28 pm (UTC)*grin* I haven't had a set since I was a kid but I remember....
Re: somewhat scattered reply but weather reminds me of some of my favorite rants.
Date: 2007-01-08 11:29 pm (UTC)