I have learned 

How to Winter

I have learned

To dig my heels in

So as not to lose the ground under my feet

I have learned 

Mittens are better than gloves

So as to keep the tips of my fingers in working order

I have learned

To layer pants over long johns over wool socks

To wear a hood with a built in furry mask

I have learned

There is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices

I have learned 

How to Winter

In this frozen tundra, where winter is worse than I ever could have conjured in my imagination

And really, it's not all that bad

I have learned

Walking though the streets

In negative degrees

Makes me feel 

I am a badass

I have learned

How to winter

With my body but also my mind

I am not bothered by the cold

I am not bothered when my boots slip

Under me

I am not bothered when I walk my dog down the stairs

And glance over the snowy tops of trees

To see the reddish hue of the sunrise

Looking through the fog of my breath

Creating ice crystals in the air

I have learned

To keep frozen vegetables

Soup stock

Beans and rice

On hand for the weeks of snow days

Piled one after the other

At the mercy of the snow removal company

I have also learned

To set up flight alerts

To sunny places

Because by February?

No thank you