Morning Thoughts

I got up this morning at 4:30 am. It was 17 degrees outside. One of the benefits of having such clear morning without to comfort of cloud cover to blanket the Earth and hold in her warmth is a magnificent view of the sky. Although the temperature was brisk I was overcome with a warmth of excitement as I looked up and recited the constellations. Some people go through life without ever looking up or enjoying the splendor of the heavens. Yet...it was cold, so I didn't stay out long.

It is now 8:15 am and the temperature has gone up to 20 degrees. I feel bad for my dogs out on their potty run. In this kind of cold, I can see their breath as it expels from their nostrils. The funny thing about the cold weather is it is all relative. In just a couple of short months the temperature will be much colder than it is today. Then one day it will warm up to 20 degrees and I will be thrilled for such warm weather.

The winter also makes me realize how lucky I am. With Thanksgiving just weeks away, I think the timing is appropriate for giving thanks that I am living in this time, and not earlier. I think of the Iroquois, who were the indigenous people of the area. They survived the upstate New York winters in their long houses, beside a fire, clothed in only doe skin. As I go out, in my thermal clothing and feel the moisture freeze inside my nose I wonder how they managed. As I complain about the high cost of heating fuel, I realize that is really a small price to pay to make it through the winter when in the past people paid the price of losing their lives because they didn't have such modern conveniences.