It's supposed to snow this week. (PB)

Winter. 

 

That is the answer I immediately used to give when posed the question, "What season do you like better, winter or summer?"  I mean, it's a complete no-brainer.  Who doesn't love that first snowfall, the sky's fluffy gray coating allowing only a few small peeks from the blue blanket underneath.  You're in math class, slowly drudging through the day because you woke up late and forgot your breakfast, and consequently, your happy mood.  Blankly staring at your teacher's unzipped fly, your ears perk up suddenly when you hear, "Is it snowing?" 

 

Forgetting your empty stomach, you whip your head so fast you get a neck cramp towards the nearest window.  There, your eyes are greeted with the most wonderful sight.  The first snow.  Your illuminated pupils carefully trace every dainty little fluff to the ground as your soul sinks into a warm, fuzzy state.  It's like your whole body is tingling with the excitement that this event entails.  Hot chocolate.  Sweaters.  Triple blankets.  Sled riding.  Your teacher has shut the blinds to curb the excitement and get back to the lesson, but you are long gone; you know you will only be thinking about Christmas and snow days for the rest of the period. 

 

At the time, summer seemed like a sin.  Reeking of chlorine, during that horrid period I would drag my butt through the side door, my hair turned a ghastly green.  I would always be thirsty, drinking lemonade by the gallons.  Taking a comfortably warm shower was out of the question, and I would be forced to hop in and out of the biting cold blast of water.  My hairy little girl legs were littered with bug bites and I would pick off the scabs for fun.  I didn't live by anyone my age, so I had to entertain myself with my sprinkler and my scabs.  It was not cool. 

 

But now, that's all changed. 

 

Instead of cozy mittens or evergreens, I keep going back to those glorious summer months that I used to dread.  The absolutely holy feeling of my skin being basked in an inviting glow of the friendly sun.  Laying in a green bed of enjoyably prickly grass, sniffing the fresh smell of clean air.  Keeping my window wide open at night and sprawling on top of a thin sheet, my body shimmering with the heat and my hair placed like a halo above my head. 

 

And I think of how loooonnggg this winter will be.  Then I grab myself a cup of tea to make myself feel cool and sit by the window waiting for that first snowflake.