As I look out my window today, what do I see?
Barren branches on the trees, rotten leaves flying around, everyone shivering — altogether it’s not pleasant at all! We’ve already had snow, on Halloween, if you believe.
It has melted, but the radio tells me it will be back in the next couple of days. I know that I can’t do anything about it, so all I can do is express my opinion and complain.
Seeing this grey, grey, grey (not my favourite colour) landscape around me is depressing.
It’s dark so early now and that doesn’t help either. I know reverting to standard time on Nov. 2 makes it seem darker, and it’s good for kids going to school to be able to do so in daylight. As a retired teacher, I should acknowledge that positive, but what about me? Yes, what about me?
As an old woman, my needs have changed drastically and that’s only natural. I don’t have to go out on stormy days and that’s a good thing. The cold gets into my bones and that’s a bad thing.
I don’t like to be cold. Putting on layers of clothing is exhausting! Yes, it’s good advice, but at my age, layering is cumbersome and hard to remember.
I know my memory is not what it used to be — so what? Not much I can do to change that.
Boots are necessary when I venture outside (which I do on sunny, not too cold days). Last winter, we didn’t have very many days like that, right?
Sometimes my boots make me feel clumsy, which is not a good feeling at all. I have to wear them, I know that, so I don’t need reminders, OK? Wearing them does not mean I won’t fall, but if it makes other people happy, I’ll put them on.
Have to keep everyone happy. That’s important, I guess.
Not sure why but it means fewer “discussions” about what I should do and have to do, so it’s worth it once in a while to listen. I get really tired of that.
I never ask for advice, but I sure get it whether I want it or not.
When did my offspring get the idea that they must tell me what to do? Did they read it in some book? I don’t get it.
For now, I’ll bundle up, layer as necessary, don my clumsy boots and await the glorious return of spring.
Erna de Burger-Fex is a writer and retired teacher.
