Steadily, and ever so slowly, it's winter-like already. I know that Winter is technically not the season yet but, for all practical purposes it is here. Winter has arrived in the New York City region. It is not going away whether I would like it to or not.I saw a weather forecast on television a few days ago. The local weatherman indicated that the sun will not be showing itself much in the next few days, if at all. Today, the temps were closer to freezing than they were to being temperate. I have seen snow already. The kind that doesn't melt much and is feathery enough to simply sweep away because it has been cold outside long enough to allow for that. I've also seen the kind of snow that slops everything up.
Recently, I took inventory of my dresser and closet and did some long overdue weeding. Because of that, somewhere during this coming winter, there will be a number of disadvantaged grown men wearing a number of slightly worn sweatshirts with 1990's ephemera embroidered on them. These folks will also enjoy a number of shirts, sweatpants, sweaters, pants and coats. Although none of this was garbage, it did fill a large black garbage bag. I set it outside and called a local charity to have it picked up. It's a charity that I and some of my neighbors contribute to. Their truck made the pick-up within the hour.
Just like that, I performed another self-detachment. In a way, I said goodbye to a short period of my life that I cannot bring myself to perpetuate. Flannel, MTV/pseudo hipster-like t-shirts, paisleys and other crap that I cannot bear to wear today or to even look at in my closet and dresser any longer. It is plausible that I may be driving around somewhere in the bowels of Morristown, New Jersey and all of a sudden I will notice an article of clothing I owned being worn by some unknown man. I would deem that surreal but, I will feel good about myself.
Yesterday, Wifey met me at work in the city. It was the day of our company’s annual Holiday party. She looked spectacular wearing a new dress and after having spent a good part of the day getting coiffed at her favorite salon. We had a substantial and warm conversation with our company’s new boss. We touched base with some of the folks who I rarely get to see who work out-in-the-field and their spouses. We ate and drank extravagantly at an extravagant venue and I won a high-def flat-screen television. It was one of a half dozen prizes raffled off at this event every year. Three-hundred employees and six great prizes. I won the runner-up top prize last night.
Again, Wifey got a taste of the very competitive personalities of some of the people whom I work with yesterday evening. After the raffle came to pass, one fellow who I work with offered me 50 percent in cash of what my prize is worth. He even flashed the bills in front of me. He knew exactly how much my prize just happens to cost. I was amused at his gall. While some folks approached me and were genuinely excited and effusive for me about the win, others (and it continues today at work) are not gracious enough to even mention anything. Totally funny.
It's OK, I'm used to it.
Yesterday was a great day to dress-up, for introspective conversation, for a hand-in-hand/arm-in-arm stroll along Columbus Avenue and a portion of New York's Central Park. It was a great day to get to know people outside of my work environment. It was a good and festive day. And, for me, it was also a pretty lucky one.
Today? Sleet, rain, slushy-icy conditions. Tomorrow, I'll be at work from 5 a.m. until about 8 p.m. I will get to work when it's dark and leave when it's dark.
It's Winter again. I will ensure that its effects don't eat away at me. I will find the sunny in this Winter's season, even if the sun isn't shining. I will be charitable and I will try to make others smile more.
And, I will throw a party every day this Winter, even if I'm its only guest.
*!*
posted by JerryNJ @ 7:45 PM
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