Thankful to be Inside Today

Rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow and a little thunder -- that's the weather report folks!  Just day before yesterday I was taking photos of a tree that is almost in full leaf. 

So far the freezing rain has been on surfaces above ground -- like my windshield, the pickup door that I was barely able to open, the gate that was frozen shut -- but, not the streets.  Maybe it will stay warm enough the streets won't freeze over.  They called off school in the event that it might.

I shouldn't complain.  There have been no power outages that I am aware of.  With all the trees around here, accumulating ice can be a real problem due to broken branches taking out power lines. 

This is the kind of weather where you want to build a fire in the fireplace, warm up some hot chocolate and get a good book.  Instead, some of us have little choice but to report to work.

We complain about the weather a lot.  It's either too hot or, too cold or, too wet.  Rarely do we get those days that are just right and yet, most of us in this country work indoors where the weather really doesn't affect us too much.  Instead of complaining we should be thankful.  There are folks who are out working in it no matter what the weather is like. 

Once upon a time I wanted to be a cowboy.  I know a bunch of folks who make their living in the saddle.  They're out there in this mess.  It's the time of year when the baby calves start coming.  There are countless individuals out riding the pastures, looking for that young cow off by herself with a newborn.  The cowboy is bundled up, probably wearing a slicker and gloves, but he's cold.  The wet cold just seeps in and chills to the bone.  That's why they are out there.  It affects those newborn calves the same way. 

They will be doing everything they can to warm that calf up so he will survive -- even to the point of carrying them across their lap as they ride to the barn with the momma cow, head up and snorting, following at a safe distance -- or, maybe not so safe distance for the cowboy.  Hopefully, she will follow all the way into the barn where they will be sheltered from the storm.

It is a noble life and a hard one. 

Yeah, I'm thankful for a job in an office on days like today.