A snowbird is defined as someone migrating from the colder parts of the northern hemisphere to warmer, southern locations. In North America, many snowbirds travel to Palm Springs, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Costa Rica, or Hawaii. This year I have also participated in this snowbird exodus. But I’ve traveled much further and spent most of my winter in Oz, a nickname for Australia.
When my son first went to Australia in 2015, I commented to a work colleague, “I think I might lose him to Australia.” Little did I know how true those words would be for he has not moved back to America, preferring things in Australia: a more laid-back lifestyle, friendly, active expat communities, excellent healthcare systems, safe, clean, low crime rates with many areas boasting beautiful subtropical climates, amazing wildlife, and some of the world’s most scenic beaches.
This time we rented a place on the southeast coast, near one of those beaches I mentioned, to spend quality time with our son and his loved ones.
When I first told a friend what we were doing she asked, “Aren’t you going to miss skiing and snowshoeing this year? I thought you liked the four seasons. There’s something pretty darn special about winter you know. The quiet on a cold winter night.”
I believe her motive might have been to get me to reconsider being gone for so long.
“Yeah, I know,” I replied.
She continued. “The beauty when we get all that snow in the mountains.”
“You’re right. Winter is amazing.” I didn’t want her to think I didn’t appreciate where we lived or our friendship for that matter.
But what I really wanted to tell her was that I was looking forward to enjoying the longer days, the sunshine, the great bursts of leaves growing on trees, the long days stretching into one another, and the truth that I might not miss winter. At all.
In fact, two summers have been, and are, exactly what I needed.
“In summer, the song sings itself.” William Carlos Williams
Enjoy the passage of time.
Sharon
© 2024. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved.
3 thoughts on “Two Summers”
Two summers!! Can’t beat it, especially when you spend part of that time with people you love! I am so happy that you are able to be in that beautiful country of “Oz” and enjoy the first of two summers this year!!
Love you!?
P.S. I do not know why the question mark appeared at the end of my comment. Auto-correct strikes again!!
I think I would miss the winter, but I can appreciate those longer, lighter days!
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