I took this picture last weekend, 25 miles from nowhere, in a place so remote, there is no cell service and no pizza delivery.  IMAGINE THAT.  I know how wrong and anti-Hoosier I am in saying this, but in the spirit of being honest, let’s just go there: I love winter.  I have always loved winter. The world goes to sleep and rests, and I often rest with it.  I love the brown grit of town and the dead silence of my beautiful white Indiana country.  The cold air feels so clean rushing into my lungs.  I can’t help but think, without winter we’d have no cashmere turtleneck sweaters.  No fireplaces.  No hot chocolate. No wool socks.  No flannel quilts.  No hot soups. No seat warmers. No snow days. No sleds. No ice skates. No crystal-covered trees. No snowmen. No snow angels. No mittens. No excuse to turn up the heat and go to bed early with hot tea and a good book.

While everyone anxiously awaits spring, I sit quietly by, wishing for just one more good snow.  One more day of stomping around in my ankle-length down-filled coat.  One more day of complaining to total strangers about how long it took me to drive across town.  And I know it’s wrong, and I should make an annual trek to Florida and sport some kind of weird neon tan in Target. That’s what Hoosiers do in February, when they’re not counting down the days to March Madness. But I don’t watch college ball, and I prefer my chapped lips, thank you very much.  I prefer winter.  This winter in particular.

Weather is beautiful.  Wish you were here.  Sending my love, Lori.