November 7, 2007

Ah, Winter

The frost is on the pumpkin, as we used to say in Indiana. Around here, it's more like the mold is on the Jack-o'-lantern, but any way you look at it, summer is long gone.

The sun gets up late and goes to bed early. There are clouds in our fabulous blue skies. The garden is looking like a compost heap. Sure, it's dark and it's chilly, but there are lots of things to like about winter in California.

First of all, hello? It's California. Unless you live someplace like Truckee, there's no snow, sleet or ice to contend with. You skiers and snowboarders can reach the powder in a few hours. While you all are packing your tire chains, the rest of us, especially those of us who grew up in the Midwest and got our fill of the frozen stuff, will cope with the winter rains here in the Bay Area. The worst thing we have to deal with is remembering to turn off the sprinkler system and avoiding the drivers who have forgotten how slick the first rains make the roadways.

In my opinion, the best part of winter is "cocooning." It's a buzz word that has come and gone along with those sacks you zip yourself into, but the concept is still big in the Hanna household. The cold weather is a great excuse to cuddle up with a mug of hot chocolate, a good book, and the remote control to the gas fireplace. Now, that's living. Mr. Bobo the Wonder Cat seems to agree. Of course, he happens to be a full-time practitioner of the lifestyle.

The next best thing about winter? The food. Lentil soup with big chunks of ham. Beef stew with rich brown gravy. Chicken casseroles with noodles and cheese. Crock pots full of vegetables that have turned to a fragrant mush just waiting to be sopped up with a hunk of sourdough. Yum!

Sure, this food is a heart attack in a bowl, but go ahead and enjoy. Come January, you can get a great deal on a treadmill or a gym membership. Then in six months, you'll have a nifty clothes rack and a free guilt trip every time your long-abandoned gym deducts the monthly fee from your checking account.

Meanwhile, it's a good thing we can wear sweaters again. A bulky cable knit always raises doubt about whether the rolls around your waist are indeed flab or a design feature of the sweater. Who cares, anyway? You'll spend the majority of your time under a blanket with the cat. He, for one, appreciates a little extra flesh to snuggle up with.

Winter is not without its downside. The season is replete with gift-buying holidays, and those who are in a hurry to show their loved ones how much they care don't seem to mind jostling strangers and stealing their parking spots. At least the best spots in the lot (the ones under the light poles) won't be taken up by piles of snow turned black by exhaust fumes.

By the way, while you're at the mall, you might want to pick up an extra sweater. That one has cat hair embedded in it.