Winter Wonderland

I hate to ruin your morning, but I have to tell you that I sleep nude. I remember the transition. I was living in an apartment and had been told by many how wonderful night nudity was. I wasn’t comfortable doing that, but slowly, over time, I got accustomed to it and everything every one had told we was correct. It’s so much better than getting tangled in your nightgown or waking up with a wedgie.

One of the best parts of sleeping naked is the housecoat. Mine is soft and pink and long-sleeved. Even in summer I put this one on. I have a shorter one, but it’s not so plush, so it hangs unused on the back of the closet door. Saturday I woke up, put on the housecoat, and made coffee. I sat down in front of the computer and heard thunder outside. The air conditioning had kicked in and the house was cool. The sky was dark. I wondered back into the bed room where I picked up Harry Potter and started reading. It reminded me of Winter: I was participating in self-induced house arrest. I was snacking every hour. I refused to take a shower since I wasn’t going out. I was snuggled under the covers and the cats were curled at my feet. All the agony that has been this summer had escaped. No more 105 degree days. No need to shave my legs. No humidity to frizz my hair. The cats wanted to be inside. It really, really felt like Winter.

And it was nice.

Part of my being a “cycling” person- and that has nothing to do with bike, it’s about the ebb and flow of life- is that I find myself looping around to a hub of experiences or thoughts or emotions. Every year in summer I have a surge of Christmas spirit. It’s been this way for at least 10 years; more likely 20. I had assumed that the whole “Christmas in July” sales were in response to my karma making them happen and not because of advertising assholes. I still choose to see it this way, even though I know it’s not real.

So now I’m fighting the urge to buy and wrap Christmas gifts, make coco, and address Christmas cards. But I do love sitting in front of the fireplace in nothing but my plush pink robe. It would be a perfect night for it. I’m even longing for the Charlie Brown Christmas Special- by far one of the best specials ever made for TV. I love when the kids dance and I love when Linus quotes from the Bible.

This feeling won’t last long. It won’t come again until Thanksgiving, so I’m holding on. I know as soon as I open the door and step outside the heat will melt the joy. But until then, peace on Earth, good will toward men.

•   Comments(2)    Posted by liz on 08/18 at 09:10 PM
•   Digg   del.icio.us   Fark   StumbleUpon