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Winter blues come in many colors. Mine take at least three distinct, relatively predictable forms.
Early December: out of kilter. As night blankets out more and more daylight, I grow shaky, lose confidence, and see rejection where none was intended. This “Decemberitis” lifts with the lights, sounds, and camaraderie of the holidays. Mid-January to late February: lethargic. Snowstorms, icy roads, and bitter cold restrict activities and personal contact. Anniversaries of significant mid-winter losses don’t help. Lots of time to write, but who has the energy? I’d rather go back to bed. Around March: restless. Spring should be just around the corner. Instead, slush on my favorite forest paths hides patches of glare ice or puddles four inches deep. Cabin fever itches worse than it did in deep mid-winter. Are we there yet, are we there yet? I’d love to hear from others about the hues of your winter blues.
8 Comments
Lisa Imhoff
2/4/2019 09:48:47 am
For me, winter takes on the shade of whatever yarn I'm knitting on any given day. December, it's often been something green and gold, or red and/or green. January and February, I experiment with color and create color by dying yarn for certain projects. Then I cast on about a dozen pair of socks and ponchos and comfort clothes. March, I lay in wait for impending change, watchfully knitting the projects I started in January and February. Knitting is Life. And requires a fair bit of light, which never hurts. Lisa, what a wonderfully colorful way to celebrate the season! I love the progression of delights from December gold/green/red through deep midwinter creative experimentation and by March, wrapping up the works of winter instead of just pacing impatient for spring. I read somewhere (can't find it now) that colors and circles are two of the leading sources of visual delight. As you say, it doesn't hurt that knitting requires light, and it also probably doesn't hurt that yarn is warm and fuzzy.
Lisa Imhoff
2/4/2019 07:17:50 pm
Sarah, you completely captured my meaning. Just to clarify, the green and gold of the pre-holiday season is for the Packers! Duh. Lisa, you probably knew how out of tune I am with sports - or if you didn't, you do now! In fact, if you showed me green and gold/yellow out of the context of a football-shaped logo or the colors everyone is wearing one fall day, I might think of John Deere farm equipment. Or maybe daffodils.
Lisa Imhoff
2/5/2019 09:08:50 am
Maybe I just need better punctuation or sentence structure? :) Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm a historian who writes novels and literary nonfiction. My home base is Madison, Wisconsin.
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