JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Yesterday's subject was a little bleak, yeah? Sorry. I think this past winter has broken me. I just want to be warm again - not only in my kitchen, when the woodstove's blazing, or in my parlor/office, with the doors shut and my wee electrical hater on. I want it to be warm in my whole house, which I keep VERY cool because, as is common in much of northern New England housing, I heat with fuel oil, which is basically tossing ten dollar bills into the furnace to keep it going.
I want it to be warm when I'm working outside, and running errands, and going to church (another huge old building! Even with the new electric radiators, most of us wear coats or woolen scarves during mass.)
And mostly, I want it to be warm so I can finally toss off my three-layer outfits and bulky sweaters and wear something light and fun and colorful!
I know, it sounds so frivolous. But I've been wearing my winter workhorse staples since October, and I've gotten so sick of them. It feels like the only pants I ever put on are black corduroy, red velveteen, and gray flannel. With black cashmere, red wool, and gray alpaca. Sometimes I go wild and wear gray cashmere, black wool, and red alpaca. Woo hoo.
It's not a gendered thing, either. I remember my late husband putting on one of his Hawaiian shirts to wear at school despite the early April sleet. He would go out and do the first yard work of the season in his favorite T-shirt. He always denied he was cold - he used to say a native Mainer didn't need anything else when it was 45°/7°. Maybe. But I suspect he was just as sick of winter clothes as I am now.
I can almost hear them murmuring from the containers beneath my bed and the clothes rack in the attic. "Julia..." they say. "Linen skirts, sleeveless shirts, cropped jeans! Flamingo pink, aqua blue, mango orange!"
Someday, my beloved spring and summer clothing, someday. Yes, it snowed yesterday. Yes, tonight's low will be 24°/-4°. But it won't be cold forever. And I just read we may have a super El Nino year coming, with hotter than usual temperatures! Usually I'm anti-climate change, but after this winter, I may have to change my stance.
How about you, dear readers? Are you longing to exchange your turtlenecks for crop tops? And for those of you living in balmier climes, does the opposite happen? Do you sometimes yearn for boots and sweaters?
Oh, yes, I yearn for the days when I don't have to wrap myself up in heavier clothing and sweaters just to keep warm . . . but the daffodils are popping up and [finally!] there is no more snow on the ground, so warmer weather can't be too far behind . . . .
ReplyDeleteWe have had our air conditioning on several times since the end of January! We never needed air conditioning until fifteen years ago. We regularly reach 100 F, even in March. Reaching 100 used to only happen in July through September.
ReplyDeleteI live in coastal NC where we had a tougher winter this year. I’ve never really lived in very cold climates so really don’t have great winter clothes so my fairly short winter stint made me learn layering. I’m in Michigan at the moment, leaving air conditioned weather for wayyyy colder weather. On my way back today and will be glad to get back to warmer weather.
ReplyDeleteI rather like being bundled into hoodies and cozy pants. My spring and summer garb needs freshening up, especially for professional gigs, but that means SHOPPING, which I find depressing. It will be nice to sit on the deck in a t shirt and shorts, if gin and tonic weather ever gets here.
ReplyDeleteYes, as a new Floridian I embrace the days when I can wear my favorite boots or sweater without looking odd. It is so weird to be at the pool on Halloween or playing pickleball in shorts on Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteMy husband, on the other hand, only ever wears long pants to church. On the cooler days, wearing his shorts and tshirt, he has been asked things like “Where are you from?” and “Are you from Alaska?” People claim our blood will thin after 2-3 years here and we will be “freezing” right along with them when the temperature dips into the 40’s and 50’s and wearing full on parkas, scarves, and gloves. While I feel that I dress appropriately no matter the weather, people here go overboard. I will admit even the slightest breeze here has a bite to it, but also the sun is much hotter on my skin than in Minnesota.
When I ceased being a snowbird and moved my home to FL 6 years ago, the keep warm in winter clothes stayed in CT at Good Will. The long underwear is the only garment I’ve missed (beach walking in the winter wind) but not enough to buy a new pair. The “color switch” that Julia mentions was never a part of my routine. I wore the same colors all year, just changing fabrics and sleeve lengths. Spring always comes as do all the other seasons. Elisabeth
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