Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
BY: RACHEL WUMKES
Winter is hard.
The cold, the snow, the endless hue of gray that lingers in the sky.
I see visions of lake days when I close my eyes; the cool water lapping against the side of an anchored boat. Sunshine so bright, it filters through even the darkest sunglasses.
Heat. So much heat and humidity it wraps around my whole body like a cocoon.
Well, the lingering issue today is… what’s the equivalent for winter?
In my research, I was expecting to find a simple answer. I literally thought if I Googled my question, the answer would simply pop up and I could then expel some super-interesting, awesome words into a wonderful little blog post all wrapped up nicely in a bow.
It did not go my way.
One website did mention the coldest, grayest days of winter that seem to drag on as “The Core of Winter.”
Not bad… but not really a catchy phrase.
Another website hinted to it being also called “The dog days of Winter” but then went on about how it was a time of year so cold, people don’t mind holding a steaming pile of dog poo in their hands.
Um… hard pass.
I considered naming the time of year myself. Something fun and catchy that could etch my name forever in history books. I began by searching for animals that thrive in cold weather. After scrolling through lists and lists, the two best options were “The musk oxen days of Winter” or “The beluga whale days of Winter.”
Neither felt like a good fit.
And then, as if by a miracle sent from the writing heavens, I stumbled upon something called Blue Monday. While the date is always changing, it seems to consistently land at the end of January which, incidentally, for 2021, was yesterday.
Every year, the third Monday of January is dubbed “Blue Monday”. The theory goes that this is the time of year when we are all cold, broke and riddled with guilt that our new year’s resolutions to get fit, drink less alcohol, and be a better human being have fallen by the wayside.
**sigh** The truth can be brutal.
Well, friends, while most years January seems to drag on and on, this year appears a bit different. Maybe it’s because the last 10 months have felt like an eternity because of the pandemic. Maybe it’s because we have yet to be blasted with a burst of arctic air or a wicked snowstorm.
Either way, we seem to be pushing through these days, whatever it is you would like to call them. Soon, we will be over the hump and on the downslide into the beginnings of Spring.
On the plus side, you CAN use these cold winter months to plan the most epically awesome Spring and Summer you have ever had right here in Clear Lake! We are working hard to put the finishing touches on our award-winning visitor guide, Destination Clear Lake, which will be released in March. Also, be sure to keep tabs on our events calendar as items are continually added to ensure y’all have THE BEST time while you’re at the Lake!