I've often wondered what it would be like to live in an area where the climate changes very little throughout the year, particularly areas with sunshine and warm temps 12 months, ad infinitum.
Those who live in summer-like climes, perhaps, have the same wondering question of how they would adjust to changing of the seasons.
This wonder for me occurs most often as autumn winds down and cold nights, frosty mornings and frozen breaths at noon are all part of living in this special part of the world.
It seems the tri-corner area -- where Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas meet -- holds a special place to observe those seasonal changes. That is particularly true as we have experienced this year, when the typical October vegetation killing frost didn't come until mid-November.
Picking the last tomatoes in mid-October is something to look forward to every year, just as having a bouquet of zinnias or roses from the garden before Halloween is something we look forward to relishing. The apple cart, to use an old phrase, tipped over a little late this year and the expected cold snap of October didn't capture our attention until weeks later. It threw off the whole body thermostat. We begin to think we might have a warm winter the rest of the year. 'Taint so.
Now that the official start of winter draws nigh, we can finally get into the habit of scraping frost off the windshields each morning. We can stop fiddling with the thermostat indicator, wondering whether to leave it set on air or heat. Yep, it's nice to finally be able to settle in for a couple or three months of nice (?) cold temps. It's during this period, when a couple of nice, warm (50-plus degree) days surprise us to help us get through the cold and sometimes snowy days.
I guess it is the variance and unexpectedness of the seasonal changes in our neck of the woods that gives challenges and rewards that break up the boredom of a constant clime.
I'm not suggesting a 12-month-of-the-year warm climate could be boring. Maybe it's just that a changeable climate provides results that help keep us awake: hot, sultry days, a frigid northerly wind, surprise refreshing summer showers, a 6-inch snow that gives the kids an unexpected vacation, the sound of the tornado alarm system, tree branches snapping under the weight of ice -- just a few of the things that keep us on our toes, sometimes awake at night, and always thankful.
How about a change of direction? Not about climate, rather about diet. We entered the dieting era a few weeks ago with lots of trick-or-treat candy, gobs of goodies at Thanksgiving and now a plethora of candies and cookies that greet us from every side. It's hard to pass them by. And the result? It's the time of year that discretion is often overpowered by temptation, when dentists must be rubbing their hands together (sorry) and the boob tube is filled with dieting programs and exercise regimens all tied to products that will nullify or neutralize the potentials.
I guess it's alright to cheat a little, to sneak a piece of fudge here and a slice of pie there. The saving months of January and February lie ahead, headlined with those annual new-year resolutions.
In the meantime, venture out after dark once in a while, marvel at the stars, relocate the Big Dipper and the Seven Sisters, feel the rustle of leaves that litter the lawn and, if you listen carefully, you might hear the yip of coyotes somewhere in the distance followed by the far-off whistle of a train as it chugs through our countryside.
Life really is worth living and enjoying in Westside Eagle Observer country. It's nice to ponder that while we feel and think and sometimes even utter thanks aloud as we marvel at our maker's creation, of which we are all a part.
Dodie Evans is former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
General News on 12/09/2015