Not everyone can live close to the
Mediterrean coast away from the areas that attract heavy snow and ice
accumulation. I do and I’m so glad. I have lived in places such as Toronto and
Montreal, Canada; and London, England. I come from a country where no drop of
snow has ever touched the earth, and if it ever does a lot of people will
faint.
However, that is not to say that the
locals don’t behave as though it were snowing what with the fashion scene. What
a hoot! Life where winter seriously visits requires a major combative wardrobe
to push against the cold, and a shovel to dig yourself out of the house plus to
find the car.
Like everybody else in my region I
have been complaining about how cold it is but life is a dream for us by
comparison. When we leave the house, even if it’s raining there’s no problem
other than to dress warmly. Meanwhile, where my son lives his apartment is on
the third floor with the bedroom backing onto the hillside.
Normally there is a lovely view up
the mountain but now there is nothing to be seen as the snow level covers the
window. Meanwhile, to get out of the apartment block a pathway has been dug and
has to be kept clear otherwise all the residents will be blocked in.
He lives within walking distance of
his work, and while it would be nice to drive to avoid the slush and icy
sidewalks it would be such a hassle to dig the car out, if he can find it under
all that snow.
For us observers the look of snow may
be a delightful sight but we don’t have to shovel it. In Canada I got all the
experience I could ever want in doing that. In fact the downtown areas have all
moved underground as life above ground is just too damn difficult.
We deliberately chose the area in
which we live specifically for the purpose of avoiding all that hassle. We were
assured that it hadn’t snowed in Valencia for ages. We were safe. So what happened
the first winter? It snowed! People went crazy with delight as though they had
never seen snow before.
What was our reaction? Shit!
Copyright © 2018
Eugene Carmichael
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