Zen and Boularderie Winter

Snow flakes are unique. I was told this when I was very young and I believe it. I’ve never really attempted to prove that there are actually no duplicates. Somehow this has become an accepted fact by everyone. No two alike. Amazing.

Now how about winters? Are two winters ever alike? There can be a pile of snowflakes during the winter that’s for sure. And once the snow is on the ground they all look the same to me. Winters can seem alike though. I think that’s because we often don’t retain the memory of one winter to the next. Something like when someone asks you who won the Super Bowl last year? You watched it. Probably followed the winning team all the way through the playoffs but can only vaguely recall even the teams that were in the final. I’m going to go out on a limb and say, categorically, no two winters are the same! They are as unique as the snowflakes that the composition of winter entails. I do remember last winter.

I live on Nova Scotia's second largest island after Cape Breton Island. Boularderie Island is 40 Km long and from 3 to 10 Km wide. Winters here can be harsh with lots of snow and very high winds.

Last winter, on Boularderie, was very different than the one we are now two thirds through. Last winter we had a lot of snow. It started on the very first day of December and only stopped for an occasional breather until March. Although it snowed often the storms were very gentle and it was pleasurable being out there clearing it away. During the breathers the temperatures were mild and the snow didn’t build up too much. By the first week in March it had practically disappeared. Every last, one of a kind, flake disappeared into the air and ground. We did not once go below -17C that year.

The present winter has been a rough one. Almost a dozen major storms from early December to late February and a long March to go. This year the snow has built up and we did, several times, get below -20C in January. We didn’t get the usual thaw period in January this winter. The storms in February have been affected by milder temperatures so we have been getting rain on the tail end of the disturbances. The big story this winter has been the wind. We have had extraordinary winds with the systems that have been coming through the Maritimes. Early on we were losing our power with every storm. Two or three times the gusts have reached 100 Km an hour! High winds are far from uncommon in these parts but it is unusual to get so many of them. The high winds actually started in mid fall and seem to accompany every storm. This is likely the affect of Global Warming but until all winters behave this way we can’t be 100% sure. I’m still betting no two are the same so I’m not too worried.

Winter weather can certainly be a challenge but the season does have its sweet spots. For instance with the exception of shovelling and clearing the snow and driving around in it there are few other demands on our precious time. For me, everything slows down once winter sets in. I read more books, listen to music, and just generally relax. The storms can make a person a tad “jumpy” but that wears off after a few good blows. Winter can be a great time for introspection. A person can go into winter a complete cad and come out the other end a saint if they stop counting the days and flakes and take advantage of the downtime offered in generous amounts. Once spring shoves us into summer we are animated again and move along at a faster clip, minds busy and unfocused.
The warmer weather is certainly much welcomed and my favourite time of the year but I still like, and need, the spaces between the snow flakes that are there if you really look for them.