Rain. In January. And temperatures mild enough that you don't have to put on a coat to run out the door for a couple of minutes.
What is this - B.C.?
Whatever it is, this is not a typical Saskatchewan winter.
I don't ever remember, during any other January, sitting in my office, looking out the window at the sun shining brightly, and wishing I could be outside. In June, sure; but not January. I don't ever remember that.
Of course, about 10 minutes after I was thinking that, it started to rain, which drew all of us in the building to the windows to have a look outside, even our recent import from British Columbia, who is accustomed to rain in January.
Then it stopped raining. And the sun came out, while the wind continued to gust from the north.
And then, of course, it started snowing.
But it was the kind of snow we usually see in March - really, really wet stuff. Big, big flakes. Not the pellets of ice we typically see in January.
It's just weird.
Not right.
Heading home for Christmas in December was pretty stress-free. There was no having to worry about the weather, or even the wind blowing, as there was no snow to blow. It was rather relaxing, for once, loading up the car to leave, instead of racing to beat a storm.
However, come Christmas, it didn't really feel like we were celebrating the right thing. On Christmas Eve, walking into the house behind my mother after a last-minute bit of shopping uptown, she said something that hit the nail right on the head.
"It feels more like Easter than Christmas," she said.
That was exactly it.
It was too nice out to be Christmas. Too mild. Too balmy. We couldn't even keep things in the "walk-in cooler" (i.e. the deck) because it was too nice. You didn't even have to warm up the car before you drove anywhere.
That's strange.
But kind of nice.
And it's what everyone is talking about.
Of course, some are more negative than others on the topic of the weather.
"We're going to pay for it later," is a comment I've heard more than once, like the universe has it in for the people of Saskatchewan. Like we have to suffer in the winter, no matter what - that's the order of the Gods.
For myself, I prefer to look at it as that winter is now going to be that much shorter. It really couldn't be short enough in my books. I really hate the cold. So no matter what happens now - if we do get a big blizzard, or drop into a deep freeze - at least we've had this reprieve. The Gods can't take that away. In just a few short weeks, it will be spring. Hopefully. And the sun will shine hot again.
I do feel for the cross- country skiers, and snowmobilers, and those who enjoy other winter activities. This has not been a good winter for them, and they likely weep into their hot chocolate every day.
But for those of us who would, if we could, hibernate until it's nicer out, it's been awesome.
Strange, for sure, but pretty great.
