Old Man Winter

So finally its come to that time of the year (as it usually does around this time), Spring is here! Spring is one of my favorite times of the year, along with Summer and Fall. Winter is not on that list. I’m not a fan of Winter. I come from a country where Winter only exists in the most War torn part of the country, so it already left a bad taste in my mouth. So when I was 8 and moved here and heard about winter, I thought I was going to be on the set of Mission: Kashmir (for all you white folks here the LINK for that movie). It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to you when I say my first winter here was not a pleasant one; it was awful.

When I was 8 or 9, and I first saw snow I was excited. I ran out and played in the only with a hoodie and some thin gloves. I wasn’t really aware of what would happen to me. The next I woke up and felt like there was a small stampede of elephants in my head. When my mom took the temperature, I was at about 101-ish. Unfortunately, none of the very awesome (and if anyone asks FDA approved) Indian Medications would work in taking my temperature down. This was also my first experience with the Doctor’s office here in America. I very much enjoyed waiting an hour as began hallucinating about Aladdin, which proves I was kind of racially charged in my youth. I also enjoyed the elderly woman behind the counter that kept telling my Mum “I don’t know what you are saying”. Ah, the refreshing scent of racism was spreading throughout this office. But it didn’t help with my fever, which had started to spike. Finally after the elderly woman was done talking about annoying daughter-in-law I was granted access to the doctor’s attention. While my fever escalated by to a solid 105, the doctor shoved a nice flat wooden stick in my mouth and then prescribed me some drugs and rest. I went to bed at around 10 am and woke up at 11 am the next day. Only to wake up and think, wow that was interesting. My mother in that time had bought me a winter coat and thick glove that I couldn’t move my fingers in. Great, how was to enjoy my time with Aladdin and the Genie now?

Winter to me is like that old guy that shows up to your house party uninvited. You’re just having a good ol’ time with Spring and Summer and all their great and their lovely friends. Spring’s being a little breezy and flirty with her Daisy pattern dress and white flats. She keeps touch your chest and your shoulders and you have to wonder does she want to you to make a move or is she just being friendly. Summer’s a hot little pancake that wearing a shorter than usual skirt and top revealing just a little too much, but you like it all the same. She’s not really the type of girl that you want to take home to your mom; More of a fling thing. All of a sudden you hear knock on your door and who is it but crazy Old Man Winter. He’s harping your buzz going up to all of Summer and Spring’s friend telling about what the did during the Ice Age and that one time he was in New York. You excuse yourself from the sweet conversation you have with Spring and pull him aside. “Hey man. What are you doing here? Who told you where I lived?” you ask, trying to whisper but clearly the party knows of your altercation. “Fall gave me the invite, bro!” says the delusion old coot. “Fall told you!” you say with surprise and rage behind your voice, “I can’t believe it. You’ve changed Fall! You’ve changed!”