There is an assumption here on the East Coast (I’m sure it exists elsewhere, but please, I’m talking about the East Coast right now) that everyone PREFERS the summer. We have four distinct seasons here … and as the days get shorter, and as the rains start to come … there is a general assumption that NOBODY likes what is happening and EVERYONE yearns for the dog days of summer again. This assumption goes down to the weatherman. EVERYONE assumes that
1. Summer = good
2. Winter = something to endure
It’s too funny. For me it is completely the opposite. Summer is something to endure, and winter (and fall, too) are my prime moments. The moments when I look around, breathe in the beauty of the chill grey skies, the leafless trees, the bitter wind, and think: “Ahhhh. Good to be alive.”
But the weathermen persist. “Well, it’s gonna be a gloomy week, folks … but never fear! Some sunshine this weekend!”
I love that they put EMOTIONS onto the weather and assume everyone is in sync. They are so wrong. I think: “Gloomy week? I’m PSYCHED! I can revel in the rain and cold and chill for 4 days before it becomes disgustingly sunny again!”
So we are now coming into my season. It’s been a long summer … and yesterday it was in the 70s here. But it is undeniably getting to be fall. There’s a chill in the air in the mornings, and heavy grey clouds cover the sky. I love it when it feels like it’s going to rain. That’s my favorite kind of weather.
I feel the same way re: summer and winter.
And it’s worse for me, because I live in Oklahoma, where it’s “summer” from about April until (it looks like this year) December.
The other thing I can’t stand is when the weathermen get really, really cheerful about hot sunny weather when we’re already in a drought. It’s like “Yeah, so, the plants are dying BUT HEY! You can go swimming in what’s left of the lake today!”
(I also like rain).
To me, endlessly sunny weather is like a person who is physically attractive but has no personality and little intelligence – it may be fun for a day or two but then it gets borning, and then it gets aggravating.
As much as I like living here for other reasons, I really, really miss having marked changes of seasons (here, fall usually means that the leaves have dried up and fallen off the trees – we don’t exactly get color). I miss having a “real” winter with lots of snow. And it feels totally wrong to me for it to be predicted to be 84* out on the third day of November…
The summer has been really long out here too … we’ve only had a couple of really crisp fall days.
I think it’s a leftover from being a kid and going back to school or something – again, having grown up in a place where there are 4 distinct seasons. There’s an energy and a zip in the fall air that I find completely refreshing.
I absolutely LIVE for autumn. Walking out the door and sucking in that first brisk day is like a tonic.
And I love the rain, too. I especially love to travel in the rain. To be in a car, my husband at the wheel, boys bundled up in the backseat, makes me feel very safe. How odd am I?
I so get it, Lisa!! I’m the same way!
Autumn and rain-lovers unite!!
When I was in Ireland with my sisters in 1999, I think it was – I bought a postcard from County Mayo, where the O’Malleys hail from. The postcard was this:
An endless brown field, with meandering grey stone walls. Overhead was a slate-grey sky.
That was the postcard.
I sent it to my friend Kate and said something like: “I think this is why I love rainy grey days. This is where my ancestors are from!”
I’m with you – I love the fall, winter, the rain, the cold, storms, all that. I like spring, though, too – I like to see things starting to come alive…but summer is my least favorite of the seasons. I don’t do well in the heat, and the brightness of too many sunny days makes my eyes hurt. I get crabby.
Totally with you on the seasons, Sheila, except for the fact that I’m not a big rain/fog fan. And I was in Kentucky last week and it didn’t look anything like your picture (at least in Owensboro). Green everywhere. I was quite disappointed.
Apropos of not a heck of a lot, I heard a Christine Lavin song called “Winter in Manhattan” on the way to work this morning. Had a line, something about raising a glass as the sun sets over New Jersey, along with a shout-out to the crew of Law and Order.
Cute song. It made me think of the handful of people I know (or at least know of) in and around New York.
I like fall best of all, but it’s a near thing.
i’m with you, red. i get really sick of ppl complaining about the weather, esp. when it’s cold and / or precipitation is happening.
you want the same balmy weather all the time, move to california. you’re gonna stay on the northeastern seaboard, might as well find something to like about it.
Jacket weather is the best weather.
cullen – oh, I TOTALLY agree!
I love being cozy – I think that’s the thing. I love the sense of coziness that comes with cooler and colder weather. I never feel cozy if it’s over 70 degrees.
I read an article a while ago that I think put it best: “The really pretty people come out when the warmer clothes get put on.”
The writer went on to say something like: Their bodies may not be perfect, but these are the truly gorgeous people who don’t make it to the beach. They dress well and their self confidence is at it’s peak during jacket weather.
Not to mention sleeping. All summer long, I sleep badly, because it’s so warm (even with air conditioning I can never get it as cool as I really want it). When fall/winter come and the evening temperatures get down into the thirties, I rejoice, because I can sleep again.
there are few things nicer than coming home on a cold cold night and making a giant nest out of blankets on your bed and curling up in it with a book. (there are also few things nicer than taking a hot bath with nice bath salts and a book, which is something else I can’t enjoy when it’s too hot out).
And I love the rain, too. I especially love to travel in the rain. To be in a car, my husband at the wheel, boys bundled up in the backseat, makes me feel very safe. How odd am I?
So good to know I’m not alone!
The only thing that summer has going for it is baseball – outside of that, bring on those chilly winter mornings. Add a little fog / rain and I’m in heaven. Maybe, like red said, it’s the Irish roots (with a Manchester childhood thrown in for good measure).
I loves me some cool weather, cloudy skies, and a solid bit of rain. Hot weather, sun, and sticky humidity make me hate life. Good thing I live in Seattle. ;)