If ever there was a month that didn't need an extra day it had to be February 2004.
It was bleary, bleak, frigid and miserable... and the weather was pretty bad too.
It came in like a lion and out like a rabid, raging lion with a slight break for the groundhog to see his shadow.
February is a month for shadows that cast long, with too much time indoors, too much time to ruminate and far too many folks suffering Seasonal Affective Disorder.
A much anticipated trip this weekend was, of course, cancelled. Friends rallied with a February defying spontaneous party Saturday night. A fire in the fireplace on our deck warmed hands, our friends took the chill off our hearts.
The sun peaked out yesterday afternoon and we seized the day. Charlie, Jennine and I got into the car and took our first trip down to the little coastal town of St. Mary's for lunch on the basis of a killer cheesecake recommendation.
This being South Georgia, the majority of the charming waterfront businesses were closed. Our jeans stood out among the Sunday best, church apparel of other diners at most of the open restaurants. But we found a cafe that has pretty good cheesecake and enjoyed our lunch.
Between the car and the cafe, stinging gnats found short-sleeved Charlie. Called "no-see-ums" or "Yankee repellant," they are the scrourge of living in this area of the country. They don't swarm when it's cold or ungodly hot, only those rare times the weather here is perfectly bearable. This was the first swell of the season.
I'm quite allergic to their sting and was grateful to be heading to the car, until we got close to it. Of the dozens of bare trees on the roadside, a flock of seasgulls had choose only the one over my dark blue car to make a "rest stop." Less efficient air raids have flattened towns. With nary a splash on the cars parked on either side, my car had seen a fecal blizzard. We dove inside, locked the doors (conditioned reponse to a threat?) and prayed the wiper fluid would do for the front windshield what none of us had the stomach to do.
Fortunately, the fluid wells had been topped when I had the car washed on Friday. The wipers swished through a translucent white paste before creating two clear swatches. We headed home humbled. It was our punishment for trying to take on February.
Once home, I admitted defeat and did not leave the couch.
TGIM.


Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs