A Blip of Spring

The first few weeks of January were gorgeous.  55 degree weather, sun shining every day.  Knowing it wouldn't last (but secretly hoping it would), I took my camera out on one of my walks to try and capture how beautiful everything looked.

 The dreaded stairs I have to take when I miss the bus and have to walk to school.  They're alright when you're not running up them though. 

These bizarre, knobbly trees are everywhere!  Anyone know what kind of tree this is? 

Anyway, now it's back to being cold and overcast, but it's still milder than midwestern winters.  There's no snow and it doesn't dip much below 30 during the day, yet the people here still gripe.  I've learned to let it go every time I hear someone say how freezing it is, because they don't want to hear that this is spring-like compared to the winters I'm used to.  I guess I don't blame them.  No one wants their complaining invalidated.  But it reminds me of a Garrison Keillor quote:

Growing up in a place that has winter, you learn to avoid self-pity.  Winter is not a personal experience, everybody else is as cold as you, so you shouldn't complain about it too much.  You learn this as a kid, coming home crying from the cold, and Mother looks down and says, "It's only a little frostbite.  You're okay."  And thus you learn to be okay.  What's done is done.  Get over it.  Drink your coffee.  It's not the best you'll ever get but it's good enough.

Who knew I'd ever miss those midwestern winters?