Two and a Half Weeks

I live about five miles from campus, and every day on my way to work/school, I drive past this outdoor eating facility. There are a few of these places around town. They're seasonal obviously - they open for the summer, then close whenever it gets cold. This one in particular hung up a sign yesterday that reads "2 1/2 WEEKS LEFT!" I'm assuming it means two and a half weeks until they close down for the season, but I'm also looking at it as a countdown to winter.

People here are really friendly. They'll strike up a conversation with you about anything. But I've noticed that when they talk about winter, they talk about it like it's an event. They make it sound like one day you're gonna wake up, and it's gonna be 40 below and a foot of snow on the ground.

At my graduate student orientation, almost ever speaker talked about how it was fall, 50 degrees in the middle of August. How it only lasts about two and a half weeks. Then, it's winter.

I got my car winterized last week - because yes, you have to plug your car in in the winter here so it doesn't die. There is now a cord hanging out the front of my car. But the lady who shuttled me from the dealership and back lectured me about staying active, about watching for seasonal affective disorder. "If you suddenly find yourself getting depressed about the lack of peanut butter...don't ignore it."

One of my professors learned I was from Texas today. He used to teach at SFA in Nacogdoches. He told me tonight after class, "Come talk to me when it's 40 below. We can talk about how we're not in sweating in Texas."

So yeah, it's like people have a countdown. I can see it too. The mountains are on fire with yellow leaves interspersed with evergreen. Autumn is definitely here. Ane we're all waiting for winter to come. For this big event to take place. For the river to freeze, and for your breath to freeze before it can escape your mouth. They're waiting for it, but not with a sense of dread. It's almost like they're looking forward to it because I think that's when the real community comes alive. I'm learning how to be an Alaskan everyday, and so today, call me crazy, but I'm starting to look forward to the winter. Even though it's only September.