Wanderlust: Snow

Showing posts with label Snow. Show all posts

Monday, February 7, 2011

Surfing on a Snow Covered Beach

As you probably know, my wife and I moved to the beach last July and it's been a wonderful experience. I've tried my best to take advantage of the beach and I've been boogie boarding, thrown starfish back into the sea, had picnics and watched the sunrise on the beach. Although I imagined that nothing would happen on the beach once winter arrived. While things have certainly slowed down, people still find reasons to dive into the ocean even when it's below freezing.

A few weeks ago my wife and I just happened to visit the beach when a group of people know as the 'Ancient Order of Hibernians' gathered over 400 people together and then they plunged into the 40 degree water. Apparently they raised over $100,000 dollars for charity, a pretty impressive feat.

Hundreds gathered for Sea Bright's annual Polar Bear swim

'I can't feel my feet.'

Lifeguards on hand, wearing space suits?

The other day, I also saw a pair of surfers ready to brave the winter weather in the search for fun and adventure. I admire these guys' passion and dedication. They must really love what they do, if they're willing to surf with snow on the beach. I think when you're truly following your bliss, no obstacle feels too large.

The beach is a great place in the summer, so full of energy and joyful people. But I also love the beach in the winter. I love how quiet and peaceful it almost always seems, when the summer crowds are gone. When I'm the only one on the beach, which happens often in cold weather, nature's voice seems much stronger. If you've only been to the beach when it's sunny and warm, I suggest you try taking a walk on the beach during the winter. It's a completely different and very worthwhile experience.

A different kind of beauty

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Some Observations About Snow

This morning I woke up to discover that it was snowing outside once more. They were giant, fluffy flakes that drifted from the sky so calmly it felt like the world was moving in slow motion. Snow always makes me feel calm and in some strange way connected to the past. A lot has changed in the few thousand years humankind has lived on this blue-green dot. Our culture has changed, the earth's animals have changed, the earth's plants have changed, even the great big ocean is always changing. But not snow, snow is one of the few constants in this world. Sure there are different kinds of snow, and once it lands it never just stays pristine. But this is how snow has always been. Since the very first person saw their very first snowflake, snow has always been cold and white and beautiful.

Some things I have observed about snow:

Snow is not as easy to tunnel through as I had imagined. Tunneling is never easy business, even when it's through snow. If someone ever says to you, "lets go make a snow tunnel!", be prepared to get cold, wet and tired. It's still a worthwhile experience, just don't expect it to be easy.

Summer, a nice place to visit

My wife and I recently went back to Tucson to visit with some family for the holidays. The Southwest has a unique, exotic beauty. The sky is never so open as it is in the desert. My wife finds a certain freedom and joy in such wide open skies and distance horizons. While I on the other hand find it somewhat...oppressive. At least during the day. The sunsets are certainly beautiful in the desert, and at night the stars are spectacular.

An Arizona sunset captured while on vacation

It felt really good to visit Arizona during the winter and get a taste of warmer weather. A blizzard had just hit the East Coast, and it was nice to have a quick escape. But it was even nicer to return to glorious winter after our brief vacation. My world just doesn't feel complete without four seasons. Enjoying warm weather during winter is like eating breakfast for dinner; it's a fun, exciting change on occasion, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time. I love summer, but if I get too much it loses it shine. I spent a decade or so living in Arizona and I grew very tired of summer and sunny days. Constant summer is like eating your favorite meal everyday, without variety things begin to taste bland and boring.

But I don't just love winter because it makes me appreciate warmer weather. Cold weather forces me to live in the moment, which is sometimes hard for me. The cold can make even an ordinary day an adventure or a battle. Winter tests us all and keeps us sharp and strong. And how could I go without the beauty of snow or the joy of sledding and snowball fights and building snow tunnels and snow men! Hot chocolate never tastes as good as it does in the winter. Yes, my soul needs winter. Although sometimes, like exercise, I don't realize how good it is for me until I have it.

Our beach shortly after returning home

I love winter as much as I love summer, spring and fall. And though I loved taking a brief vacation from winter, it feels so good to return to normal.

"If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work." -William Shakespeare King Henry IV Part I Act 1 scene 2

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Winter in NY & NY 2009

Another season has come and gone, so here's another slide show of what I saw this year. A little taste of winter in the Garden State and the Empire State. Follow the link and please enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffowick/sets/72157623683587443/show/.

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