Dear Winter,

Long ago, I took a certain amount of pride in suffering whatever you could throw at me. Cold? No problem. Sleet? *Sigh* Snow? Eh, not so bad. I relished the challenge. I enjoyed deciphering a clothing matrix so that for a given temperature range, I knew exactly what to wear. I settled into the monotony of dumping water on my bike each night to wash away the coat of salt and slush.

But, now, Winter, that’s all changed. Well, really, I’ve changed. I’ve grown weary of the snow. Last year, I told myself it was the freeze-thaw-freeze cycles that drove me crazy, but this year, with our current freeze-freeze-freeze cycle, I’m just sick of the snow. Our city refuses to treat the bike paths it builds, and the roads are a rutted, pot-holed mess. And just when relief is in sight, the snow comes again, sometimes without warning. A winter wonderland, yes, but not when I must leave the house. Riding in the coldest, snowiest weather was once a badge of honor, but now it’s nothing more than a chore.

So, Winter, our time together is coming to an end. I’ve moved on. Grown up. The looks of amazement from co-workers have lost their charm. I prefer a warm breeze, a dry bike, and the sun on my back.

Sincerely,
brian

P.S. In an effort to make you go away, I just purchased a pair of studded tires for my bicycle. I suspect once I install them, it will not snow again ’til next year, sometime just before I re-install them for the winter.

Posted on 30 January 2009