Winter

I love the cold. I love bundling up, wrapping myself in old, fuzzy blankets with engaging patterns. I love the rush indoors, and the sweet taste of chapstick on my lips. I love the little white flakes twirling and twisting in the air. I love when the world turns white. I love when I can barely see down the road. I love the rare warm days. I love the laughter echoing through high schools when flakes tumble down outside the windows. I love the long sleeves and knitted caps. I like the holidays and new beginnings. I love kissing cold metal. I love the reminders flashing across television screens, and the dancing around the house in pajamas when the announcement comes. I love the old movies played on the television. I love the bountiful tables and grins all around. I love the wrappings and trappings. I love the old songs, and the new songs, and the new spins on old songs.

I love the fuzzy socks in a rainbow of color. I love burying my head beneath a mountain of blankets. I love pulling the comforters from the tops of linen closets. I love snuggling my head into a stack of warm, clean laundry. I love the chocolate my mother always buys. I love the jackets and coats and vests. I love the scarves. I love the stacks of books with words not yet read. I love the little brothers sneaking in at early hours, begging to be told tales of manger scenes and heroes and dragons.

I love my dog's prancing through freshly fallen snow. I love the shrieks of children weaving through the drifts on bright sleds. I love the rush to the bus stop. I love sitting just above the bus engine and relishing in the heat. I love the view from the windows of the mountains on the horizon. I love the traffic slowing. I love the slippery slope of my driveway. I love leaving a bowl out on the porch, then tugging it back inside and eating the snow inside.

I love the strings of golden lights. I love the crackling fire. I love winter camp. I love eating ice cream when it's snowing outside. I love Jack Frost. I love his sketches on the world, and his daggers hanging from the roof.

I love winter.