The citizens of Turkey Hollow (along with most of the rest of the nation) have been in the grip of a bitter cold wave. As I sit here with hot chocolate in the early evening writing, it is already -2 degrees below zero. Now I am telling you that is cold. If I open the door it is like walking into a icy brick wall. God knows what the wind chill is currently. However, I have to be honest, I love winter - especially this winter.

Am not one of those folks at the country store complaining about the brutal, bleak, dark and cold days of winter. Nor one of those sissy snowbirds who escape to Florida and often get caught watching the fruit producers turning on their fans attempting to save their oranges on a cold night just don't have my respect. The ones with the Hallmark made calendars that count off the days to the first days of Spring clearly don't have the stamina to live in Turkey Hollow. Things weather-wise can be tough in these hills but they are supposed to be tough.

Now don't get me wrong. I struggle in it all. Getting up the dirt hilly road out of Turkey Hollow is one constant adventure with neighbors digging out cars that fail to make the incline. Some days we all just know that no car is making that hill and everyone might as well just light that fire and read that book. Snow covers my Internet satellite dish and I have to get on a step ladder and knock the white stuff off it in order to communicate with you, my dear readers. Don't know if you fully appreciate the sacrifices made in order to meet your daily demand for news from Turkey Hollow! The propane gas truck won't come down the hill unless we can get the road totally clear since he can't make it back up the hill if there's even a bit of icy snow. We learned that one the hard way when he got stuck in my yard. The Federal Express and UPS drivers don't even attempt to make the trek down and just leave the packages in a truck at the top of the hill. Forget the old saying about the mail 'neither rain, snow, sleet etc'. We have to go into town to get the mail since winter delivery is not possible here in Turkey Hollow. Life can be rough.

But that is the good part. There is a constant challenge, a sense of comraderie among the residents, something always exciting happening to gossip about and a sense of humor about the life we have chosen to live here in these hills. If you ask Wayne Keller who, having lived up here for a number of decades is the dean of these hills, how this winter compares with others, he simply says "I will let you know in May." Without Wayne many of us wouldn't have made it through the first year since he has a way of imparting wisdom to stupid newcomers. Now I find I can advise others and it feels good to have been trained by Wayne Keller!

What makes this winter so special is that this week in the cold and the snow I can watch Spring at the same time. Say what? This week will see a nation bloom again and a new beginning as we swear in our new President. Everything will seem fresh and new and wonderful even as it snows outside. My eyes have improved enough that I plan to have a fire going, hot chocolate brewing and my rallying sight zeroed-in on my television set to watch a once in a life time experience of seeing Spring in Winter.

It ain't bad at all. Kinda like my winters. Especially now.