We are now experiencing our first Fall and Winter in Texas. Being a totally Midwest gal down to my DNA (I’ve only ever lived in three states; Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio) my body refuses to accept this, this — I don’t know what to call it. – Fall/Winter? I should have been alerted to the crisis of surviving 95- 99º temps with 100% humidity from June to September, with no reward of the opposite, COLD weather, from November to March, to look forward to. Not to mention NO transitional seasons of Autumn and Spring.
Here are the issues as I have experienced them: First cold morning early November, 40º. I dress accordingly; jeans, long sleeves, thick socks, jacket, gloves and knitted cap to keep my ears warm. We, my dog, Little Girl and I, head out for a brisk morning walk. Lovely. Next morning, overcast, so I don the same outfit. To my utter surprise, before I reach the end of our street, I am sweating. By the time we get back, I’m carrying my jacket and hat, my face sheened with sweat. I stop and chat with my neighbor, a young man leaving for work. He informs me that there are only two seasons here, Summer and NOT Summer. Back home, my cell phone confirms it, 64º. Lesson learned. One cold day is not followed by another here.
But it is now Christmas Eve and my body is still rebelling. I keep putting on jeans and warm footwear. My capris and Tees have been regulated to the back of my drawers and closet ‘till Spring. Not shaving my legs until Easter. And no pedicures for a while. This is the Winter season. I expect to wake up to a blanket of white, put on my insulated snow boots and neck scarf just to walk the dog. We are supposed to hibernate and try to stay warm this time of year. I’ve even added an extra blanket on our bed. I love to put on plush PJs and snuggle up with nothing but my nose sticking out. Now by 2 am, the top blanket is on the floor.
But alas, I cry UNCLE! But in word only do I give in. My mind and body cannot. I want to go outside and chat with my neighbors, introduce them to the “Great Mid-Western Furnace” race. The one where you get bragging rights if it’s mid-November and you have yet to “fire up the furnace.” Most of us, back in our previous home, never make it that far. Only the hardy transplants from N. Dakota or Minnesota wait until there is a threat of frozen pipes before turning the heat on.
What I have learned, here in Texas; it is perfectly acceptable to use the furnace to knock off the chill at night or in the early morning, only to switch to the AC to get the humidity out by 2 pm. And the kicker, there is no season when it’s OK to open the doors and windows to allow the humid atmosphere from outside to penetrate your home, possibly implanting mold spores for you to deal with later.
One last observation. I am not the only one confused about what season it is. It seems the trees and fauna on my block alone, represent all four seasons.
Logos 