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March Is Full of Surprises
By Susan Nye
March is full of surprises. One of them is daylight savings time. If you were
paying attention, you sprung forward on Saturday night and lost an hour. If you
are patient and wait a bit you will get it back in the fall.
Daylight savings time is not without its controversy. The farmers, their cows and
early risers don’t like it. In the whole scheme of things, one little hour doesn’t
seem like much. Hardly important really, especially when you compare it to all
the time and money, billions actually, lost by banks and automobile
manufacturers in the past six months or so.
If you forgot to change your clocks, as I’ve been known to do, you’re probably
running late and wonder when you will ever catch up. Over the years, I’ve
missed trains and been late for a few appointments. Nothing too dramatic,
although I once had an interesting conversation with a very nice lady who sold
movie tickets. It took several minutes of back and forth, she in perfect German
and I in broken French, before I figured out why she was refusing to sell me a
ticket. If you are feeling a bit at odds, not to worry, you will eventually get back
on track. If not, well then the time change probably has very little to do with
your befuddlement.
Yes, March is full of surprises.
There is that whole in-like-a-lion-and-out-like-a-lamb thing.
I was born in March. I arrived two weeks early, in-like-a-lion. My brother is also
a March baby, also early. My sister, Brenda, who was born in October, is looking
forward to the out-like-a-lamb part of the month. Brenda has had enough of the
cold and snow. Mostly she’s had more than enough of shoveling and big boots
and heavy coats. She doesn’t ski any more so all the cold and snow doesn’t have
much of a bright side. Only wet dogs and cold feet.
I spoke with Brenda just the other night. She called me to wish me a happy
birthday and complain about the latest blizzard. I like it when it snows on my
birthday; I consider it a gift from Mother Nature.
This year Mother Nature’s aim was off. The big snow missed the mountains and
buried the coast as well as Boston, New York and even Georgia. It wasn’t Brenda’
s birthday and yet she was inundated with more than a foot of snow, a lot more.
It hardly seems fair and may be just another ploy to keep the last vestiges of our
sibling rivalry alive.
Thank goodness, it wasn’t rain. Like it or not we have reached that point when
winter is on the way out, not in. I suppose only the skiers fall into the “like it
not” category. Every time one of those weather people comes on the air, we hold
our breath. Snow or rain? And if it is rain, will Mother Nature take pity on us
and keep it well to the south.
New England skiers are an optimistic bunch.
We have no choice. Who else can skis on ice and shrug it off as hard packed
powder. Or should I say hahd packed powdah. We rejoice and celebrate every
snowfall, large and small. We endure hours in the biting cold and still smile.
Although, it is possible that it’s not truly a smile just some strange, frozen facial
contortion brought on by the wind.
Now that March has arrived we wait, somewhat impatiently, for a few days of
spring skiing.
May Saint Jude and Mother Nature take pity on and bless New England’s skiers.
No matter how much the wind batters or the cold air blasts, we are tough and
tenacious. We shrug off the cold, bundle up in wool, miracle fibers and down
and still manage to move with enthusiasm if not grace. And may God bless
whoever it was who invented hot chocolate. I think it was the Swiss.
Enjoy the rest of the ski season, may it bring only good surprises!
Click here for Susan's recipe for warm chocolate pudding
About the author: Susan Nye lives in New London and is a freelance writer and cook.
For more recipes and to learn about her cooking classes, catering services and Around the
Table chef’s aprons visit her web site, Susan Nye.
By Susan Nye
March is full of surprises. One of them is daylight savings time. If you were
paying attention, you sprung forward on Saturday night and lost an hour. If you
are patient and wait a bit you will get it back in the fall.
Daylight savings time is not without its controversy. The farmers, their cows and
early risers don’t like it. In the whole scheme of things, one little hour doesn’t
seem like much. Hardly important really, especially when you compare it to all
the time and money, billions actually, lost by banks and automobile
manufacturers in the past six months or so.
If you forgot to change your clocks, as I’ve been known to do, you’re probably
running late and wonder when you will ever catch up. Over the years, I’ve
missed trains and been late for a few appointments. Nothing too dramatic,
although I once had an interesting conversation with a very nice lady who sold
movie tickets. It took several minutes of back and forth, she in perfect German
and I in broken French, before I figured out why she was refusing to sell me a
ticket. If you are feeling a bit at odds, not to worry, you will eventually get back
on track. If not, well then the time change probably has very little to do with
your befuddlement.
Yes, March is full of surprises.
There is that whole in-like-a-lion-and-out-like-a-lamb thing.
I was born in March. I arrived two weeks early, in-like-a-lion. My brother is also
a March baby, also early. My sister, Brenda, who was born in October, is looking
forward to the out-like-a-lamb part of the month. Brenda has had enough of the
cold and snow. Mostly she’s had more than enough of shoveling and big boots
and heavy coats. She doesn’t ski any more so all the cold and snow doesn’t have
much of a bright side. Only wet dogs and cold feet.
I spoke with Brenda just the other night. She called me to wish me a happy
birthday and complain about the latest blizzard. I like it when it snows on my
birthday; I consider it a gift from Mother Nature.
This year Mother Nature’s aim was off. The big snow missed the mountains and
buried the coast as well as Boston, New York and even Georgia. It wasn’t Brenda’
s birthday and yet she was inundated with more than a foot of snow, a lot more.
It hardly seems fair and may be just another ploy to keep the last vestiges of our
sibling rivalry alive.
Thank goodness, it wasn’t rain. Like it or not we have reached that point when
winter is on the way out, not in. I suppose only the skiers fall into the “like it
not” category. Every time one of those weather people comes on the air, we hold
our breath. Snow or rain? And if it is rain, will Mother Nature take pity on us
and keep it well to the south.
New England skiers are an optimistic bunch.
We have no choice. Who else can skis on ice and shrug it off as hard packed
powder. Or should I say hahd packed powdah. We rejoice and celebrate every
snowfall, large and small. We endure hours in the biting cold and still smile.
Although, it is possible that it’s not truly a smile just some strange, frozen facial
contortion brought on by the wind.
Now that March has arrived we wait, somewhat impatiently, for a few days of
spring skiing.
May Saint Jude and Mother Nature take pity on and bless New England’s skiers.
No matter how much the wind batters or the cold air blasts, we are tough and
tenacious. We shrug off the cold, bundle up in wool, miracle fibers and down
and still manage to move with enthusiasm if not grace. And may God bless
whoever it was who invented hot chocolate. I think it was the Swiss.
Enjoy the rest of the ski season, may it bring only good surprises!
Click here for Susan's recipe for warm chocolate pudding
About the author: Susan Nye lives in New London and is a freelance writer and cook.
For more recipes and to learn about her cooking classes, catering services and Around the
Table chef’s aprons visit her web site, Susan Nye.
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