Invisible Differences

The difference between west

coast winter cold and prairie winter cold is invisible and some may say negligible.

A prairie girl, I know that bright snow and wide blue sky

are part of the difference ~ yet when the wind whines and howls, dry cold is forced deep into bones and joints that stiffen and freeze.

A Victoria resident, I see grey skies dripping with wet cold brightened by green or gold leafed trees spared by November winds ~ yet when the wind whistles and whines, damp cold seeps deep into bones and joints that stiffen and freeze.

The difference registers visibly on weather gauges and thermometer, yet cold is as cold does. One must always be prepared to find the similarities of warmth and shelter.

“People are pretty much alike. It’s only that our differences 

are more susceptible to definition than our similarities.”

~ Linda Ellerbee