The weather outside was beautiful! The temperatures made it to sixty-three degrees in February and being that this is the northeast this was phenomenal. January we had storm after storm, breaking records and causing people to become short-tempered or like me depressed. Back in January the snow banks were over six feet along the roads, and on-street parking was virtually impossible. Entering and exiting my driveway was a half hour ordeal because of all that ice build-up. My wheels were trying to navigate into the extremely narrow driveway, and the tires squealed loudly in protest. I was determined to win this battle because I have four-wheel drive. If I had purchased that mustang like I was contemplated I would have been doomed.

There were snow advisories, school and flight cancellations and your typical panic to go to the store to buy milk,bread and groceries. I don’t ever recall this growing up, this sheer mania like we were facing the end of the world. Us kids couldn’t wait to go outside and play and leaped for joy when school was cancelled. It was lovely going outside to watch the beauty of nature and then throw snowballs at each other.

Unfortunately for me, since I am an adult winter slows me down and saddens me. It feels so long and you really can’t go out and frolic like you can during the other seasons, particularly in the spring, summer, fall. The skies are gray and the days are shorter so there is more darkness. One year I purchased a “Happy Light” from Costco’s and let me tell you that light was bright, I felt like I was in another season besides dreary winter. I see why theses light boxes are popular in places such as Sweden. If I lived in Seattle.WA where it rains all the time or Alaska, which experiences so much darkness I would kept that baby on, electric bill de damned.

My mom who stays in bed all the time due to her disability and partly because of her strong will have a vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight would help her tremendously but she is hell-bent on not taking her vitamins or strolling outside in her electric scooter. Relatives have tried to get her to move down south where it is warmer but she refuses. Talk about stubbornness.

Now I recall living in Fl for some time and despite the Sunshine State’s pleasant weather, I was mildly depressed. I believe I was in the beginning stages of realizing something was wrong, but could not pinpoint it. I worked and promptly went to sleep. I isolated myself and had very few friends. I felt out of the loop because I was an outsider; I wasn’t an island girl, I was a Latina and I wasn’t Black enough. The minute I opened my mouth there was a [problem and I missed my hip hop and house music; Miami Bass was the king.

I did hang out with Whites, but one said some unflattering things about Black people in the teacher’s lounge so then that friendship ended. I just had trouble making a connection and felt something was missing. I guess the expression “Fair Weather Friends”  come to mind because these are people who abandon you when you are down and bail out on you.A true friend is by your side and has your back no matter what. Loyalty and integrity are so important. I know some people choose your friends simply for what the other person can do for you, or if they fit a certain mode. This to me sounds so superficial and I am better off without them.

Lesson learned: Get out and enjoy the good weather, protect yourself against the winter doldrums and seek true friends!