winter | A TABLE FOR ONE

It’s been a cold, damp and windy March in the northeast this year. When it’s damp like this, it’s literally bone chilling. Most folks want to hunker down inside and spend the night watching TV, cooking and maybe even retiring early.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles before I sleep. Robert Frost

I take inspiration from poets who incorporate nature into their metaphors. On a recent bitter cold March night, I fought the weather and ventured out on a late evening walk to the Jacqueline Onassis Reservoir in Central Park in New York City.

March winds in the Park

I have a great winter coat that’s literally the size of the Michelin tire character. It’s ridiculous, but perfect for this kind of adventure. It makes you impervious to cold, with its head to toe embrace of warmth! I’ve made it a habit to explore things on the coldest days of winter in the northeast, for just this reason. Once, I spent an afternoon alone at The Bronx Zoo, walking through the nearly empty park. It was fantastic. I had a front row seat to the few animals that could wander out in the cold. This walk the other evening reminded me of that.

The runners are hunkering down at home on a bitter cold night!

There is definitely no other time of day, other than very much pre-dawn hours, that the running track at the reservoir is empty! It’s quite a sight to see and one that I couldn’t resist venturing out to explore on my own. Besides, who else would want to join me on a night like this one?

The Dakotas and reservoir on a cold night

The Dakotas standing tall on a cold winter’s night at the Reservoir

Standing on the abandoned runners’ track…looking west across the water, to NYC’s Dakotas towers, with the dark, dark backdrop of the sky. What could be more beautiful? Bundled up, heavy socks, layers of sweaters, a warm scarf, hat, gloves, wool socks and boots. Sounds like Switzerland in the winter! But what a great way to spend one of the coldest evenings of winter, out in the elements and treating myself to a great moment for “A Table For One”!

This year has been so beautiful in the Northeast. Very unusual, long stretches of balmy weather, blue skies, sunlit days. The Northeast is normally filled with unpredictable weather, ranging from cold snaps, to fog, rainy days and occasional blue skies.

“Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get.” Mark Twain

In my mind, the best days are sometimes “good weather” days. Especially if the weather in a given month is unusual. I’ve decided to chose a “Day of the Month” every month. It’s another way to make yourself aware of the delight that each day brings. Something to look forward to, make note of and celebrate.

Look for the magical beauty of nature and light.

This month, November, I thought that “The Day” had already arrived on November 3rd. On a long walk through Central Park, I couldn’t help noticing how the autumn sunlight burst through the trees, amping up the contrasting colors of the landscape.

Such an unusual November!

On this particular day, I thought that the magical transition of seasons was so clearly evident. The floor of the gardens were covered with fallen leaves, while newly blossomed autumn plants and flowers were peeking through. The combination was startling and beautiful.

Summer passes the baton to Autumn as the seasons change

I find that the complexity of nature reflects the complexity of our lives and can be very reflective of our emotions too. It’s easy to lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, if you simply surrender to it. On this day, I fully enjoyed the wide range of thoughts and feelings, reflective of the landscapes.

The day mixed together a summer temperature of 72, the blazing reds and yellows of tumbling autumn leaves and the bittersweet reminder that winter will soon arrive. Yet, the promise of spring was also present in the newly blooming plants poking through. A truly perfect day. Perhaps the best “Day of the Month” for November. Well noted and captured in thought and memory for “A Table For One.”

A TABLE FOR ONE

THE ART OF "BEING" ON YOUR OWN

Tag Archives: winter

March Winds

Day of the Month