January

January is the month with a punch in the upper Midwest. I salute the cold weather warriors whose professions require gearing up each day with long underwear, Carhartt coveralls and heavy duty boots. I confess that my job demands only the usual amount of outer clothing for survival so I am able to watch the world of wintery weather through my living room window and the windshield of my car. Nevertheless, January inspires a sense of camaraderie as we take the weather hand that we are dealt and make the best of it.

January can rage with tempestuous winds and temperatures that cause the mercury to plummet in a matter of minutes. The cold, dry air can burn unprotected skin and damage one’s extremities. Sometimes the snow comes in by the bucket loads. Other times it fluffs its way down with a mere dusting.  January can also sneak in a few days of balmy (30’s) temps that kiss the ground with a hint of spring. And as quickly as a warm day arrives, so does the return of another Arctic blast reminding us to keep our winter coats zipped up and our gloves handy.

There are unmistakable sounds to January, as well. When the weather gets really cold, the car doors creak with an almost earsplitting slice into the air. The sound of ice scrapers being used on windshields indicates the type of precipitation we’ve received. If the scraper is making fluffy, sluffy sounds, we’ve received a dry, pillowy kind of snow. A scritchy, scratchy sound indicates that we've had a wet snow/rain combination that has created an ice pond on the glass. If it’s the sound of the windshield wipers only, we’ve had just a snow dusting and we will be on our way with barely a pause.

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Naked trees and shrubbery are also a part of the landscape in January. Bird nests are clearly visible and longing for the return of their former homeowners. A few lone ravens perch on the branches of the barren monuments as they claim exclusive rights to their territory. The snow is gathered on the branches and occasionally fluffs off, creating a snow globe effect when the wind breezes its way through.

January requires planning ahead and always having a Plan B. Coats and gloves must be donned and cars need to be started to warm up. Winter survival kits need to be packed into the vehicle even if the departure day is sunny and bright. Cell phones need to be fully charged. Weather forecasts and alerts are carefully monitored. School kids expectantly watch the television screen for an announcement of their favorite holiday, the snow day. Driveways need to be shoveled and shoveled again after the snow plow has gone by.

Probably the best part of January is that it is approximately 300 days away from the next holiday hype season. We can all breathe a sigh of relief and throw out the last of the cheese balls and cookie trays. Households fall back into the rhythm of daily living. Some folks begin searching for a tropical getaway vacation package deal. Others, like me, are content to make a pot of soup, brew some tea and enjoy the sights and sounds of January.