– The house smells like cabbage and probably will until April. My husband’s idea for our winter salvation was a slow cooker, which I’m all behind. The problem arises from a marked difference of opinion on the subject of cabbage. I feel it’s the scourge of the vegetable world. He does not. Regardless, I’m stuck with the smell of cabbage until we can open the windows again–April if we’re lucky.
– A little part of me dies every time I sit down on the ice-cold toilet seat. A friend did direct me towards this solution, which I’m seriously considering.
Okay, this is gorgeous, but the rest of it sucks
– Our child might never go to school again. And, you know, I’m totally concerned about how this affects her education and her own sense of well-being. The social deprivation and all that. But mostly, I’m just worried about how I will hold onto my sanity. The beautiful thing about schools is that they take your children away for big chunks of the day, and this is good for everyone. I’m considering giving the road crews my phone number and offering to help.
– Everything is harder in winter. There are whole weeks when I can’t open the back door to my car. Buckling your seat belt over a bulky coat and four layers of clothes becomes a not-very-funny physical comedy routine. My husband and I can’t hold hands when we walk around town for fear one of us will slip o the ice and pull the other one down with them. It takes 30 minutes to get your car scraped and warm enough to move anywhere.
– I almost stopped writing and, yes, I blame it on winter. And maybe the form rejection I got from my favorite literary magazine. And that horrible feeling you have when you know your current work in progress needs yet another edit, and will need another edit after that, and another–you get the idea. All of this seems harder to bear in winter, especially a winter with no end in sight.
But, thank god, this isn’t Game of Thrones, and the winter will end eventually (right?). And I have not stopped writing. Like a car in subzero temperatures, it takes a little longer to get going, but I putter along. In the meantime, if you see me and catch a whiff of cabbage, you’ll know why.
Sorry to hear about the winter woes and the clearly insane editor who rejected your piece. He/she should be banished to the Wall with Jon Snow (who also knows nothing).
Wow, Beth. Thanks so much. That really brightened my endless winter day! The Wall would get pretty crowded with all the editors who’ve rejected me, which is how it goes. If you’re not getting rejected, you’re not doing it right.
You are an awesome, awesome writer and I look forward to everything you write! Don’t let ’em get ya down.
Thanks, Jess. That’s really so nice to hear. I’m back at it, writing away.