Ever since I can remember, I’ve felt drawn to the South, especially during the long, cold, grey days of winter.
That pull has been exceptionally strong this year, when temperatures took an uncharacteristic early nosedive — and have yet to recover.
Blame my parents, both native Mississippians, who seized every vacation as an opportunity to drive back and forth “home.”
And who strongly encouraged me to go back “home” when it came time for college.
I started feeling the tug right after Thanksgiving.
The week we were scheduled to leave, I developed a nasty cold, starting with a scratchy throat that got sorer and sorer. Soon, my eyes and nose got involved, running like they were in a marathon. My ears were stopped up, too, leading to a dull-witted fog, followed by incessant coughing.
Have you tried driving two days — 750 miles — feeling that rotten? No? Well, neither had I until this time.
And let me assure you, it wasn’t fun.
Still, with every fiber in my being, I knew I had to get South. To heal. Body and spirit.
I see photos on The Weather Channel of snow — at home, on the East Coast, even in the Mideast region of the world. And yes, it’s beautiful.
Traditional Christmas cards depict lovely snowy scenes, with evergreens outlined in white frosting, woodland animals peacefully dining on berries, fireplaces cozily lit with a roaring blaze. We’re taught from a young age that that is what the holidays should look like.
But the older I get, the more I admit that’s NOT my ideal Christmas.
Nope, I’d be really happy if it snowed from about Dec. 15 to Jan. 6, then vanished completely until the next year!
I don’t like slush — the muddy, wet stuff that slings to roads and tires after the pretty snow has started to melt.
I don’t like ice — especially the kind that looks like water but is slick enough to kill or maim.
I don’t like shopping in coats, walking the Sheltie bundled in a gazillion layers of clothing, not seeing the sun for days on end.
I prefer this:
Light pink Camellia Sasanqua (http://www.absolutewonder.com/camsas.html)
And this:
Deep pink Camellia Sasanqua
And this:
Is this a baby orange, or a kumquat, or what?
And especially this:
Water view
What heals you when you’re feeling puny??
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
Ouch. Sorry about your dreadful cold. What heals me when I am feeling puny? Well, I like to be in my own bed when I am sick, but when it’s my spirit that needs a boast I head “home” to New Mexico to be with my family.
Hope your cold passes quickly and you enjoy the relaxation and warmth!
I’m gaining on the cold, thank goodness! I don’t do medicines well at all, so I’m having to boost my immune system the natural way. Sunshine and warm temps help. So does doing as little as possible, ha! That’s not exactly easy at this time of year, but oh, well. I know what you mean about your own bed — that’s a biggie!
Oh Debbie, I am so sorry to hear about your cold, when I know how much you were anticipating this trip. Hope the south helped to heal you.
For me, what helps to heal when I’m feeling puny are two things: time spent within nature because it seems to balance me – mind, body and spirit. And believe it or not, time spent in NYC. I always come back feeling infused with energy.
Have an awesome Monday and week, dear lady!
X
P.S. Beautiful photographs!
YES, Ron — time spent in nature does help me feel better, particularly when nature is as kind as she is down South. Today is sunny and in the upper 50s, perfect for taking strolls with my fur-kid!
NYC is your spirit-healer? I’ve only been to The City a few times, but I always find it somewhat BUSY! You’re probably used to that and welcome the frenzy, though.
Glad you enjoyed my photos. Have a super week!
Hope you feel better soon.
Nature…anywhere…heals me. Oh, and don’t forget comfort food; it does wonders.
Thanks for the suggestions, Suzi. I always find a cup of hot tea (and some chicken noodle soup) soothing, but let’s not forget chocolate! I’m not sure a doctor would suggest chocolate for a cold, but hey, whatever works!
I hate sore throats above anything else!
I agree. If snow could leave (sometime in February) that would be great.
The professor sounds perfectly rational and sensible to me. Sore throats ARE awful, and snow (at least in my part of the Midwest) lingers far past its welcome. But then, I’ve found it to be like fish and guests — smelly after three days!
Absolutely!
Awwww…you’re making me homesick, and I never lived in the South, but my folks did and we still have their house. So you remind me the camellias there will be blooming…and I won’t be there to see them. And the lake will be beautiful, and I see the temps there today are in the 50’s maybe low 60’s…and the temps here today are in the low teens. DARN! LOL. I hope you are feeling better soon! Thanks for the memories…maybe next year I’ll be there for Christmas.
Dawn, you probably SHOULD plan to spend the holidays next year down South. I’ll bet Katie would love playing Frisbee without all that cold, icky snow, and I’m sure she’d be like Dallas — wanting to go for LOTS of walkies in the warm sunshine!
What pretty pictures, Debbie! I know what you mean though about cold weather and wishing snow would last from mid December to early Jan. That would be nice. I, being here in the southwest, enjoy the cold days, though my home feels like a wind trap with all sorts of frigid air making its way through the window panes and around the front door. But today we’re having a heatwave of 80 or so degrees. Believe it or not, I wish it would stay cool (no higher than 60s) until early Jan. And then warm up.
I hope you’re on the mend quickly, feeling better in no time!
Monica, I sincerely thank you for your good wishes and yes, I hope to feel better soon, too. After all, Christmas is just nine days away — EEEK!!
You mentioned your house feels like a wind trap. Isn’t that just part of the construction in your area? I mean, southern California is hardly noted for being cold, is it?? There’s something to be said for Christmas cards featuring Santa on the beach, ha!
I’m sorry you’ve been sick – that does put a damper on vacation plans.
I enjoy seeing anything in nature. I have to admit that all the years in Phoenix have made me really miss snow. We don’t get that much where we’re at now, but it will be enough for the kiddos to have some fun…and summers aren’t 115+ degrees 🙂
Where you are now does sound better than Phoenix — 115 degrees?? Yikes, I’d expect people and pets to MELT in that kind of heat! Being sick is no fun — especially as the holidays near — but I keep telling myself I’m gaining on it. I hope that’s not just wishful thinking, ha!
Debbie, my parents used to live in N Carolina, and that’s exactly what Christmas there looked like! Their whole house was surrounded by camellia bushes, so you really brought me back to a good old Southern Christmas. xxxx
Glad to oblige, Jann! Perhaps that’s part of the draw of Sicily for you, having the same type of temperate climate you enjoyed as a child??
Oh I hope you’re feeling better by now Debbie. That southernn climate aand those bbeautiiful blooms ouught to do the ttrick. SSpeaking of tricks – my kkeyboardd seems to bee stuttering tthis morning.. Perhhaps it needds a brreaak too.
HaHa, yes, it would seem so — that must be annoying! I *am* feeling better, if I could just shake this cough and congestion. But looking at The Weather Channel and seeing all that ice and snow back home, I’m certain I’ll heal faster here.
Oh, gosh – I surely do hope you’re feeling better by now. I’m one of those orange-juice-and-rest sorts. If I get really sick, that’s what I do. The past three years or so I’ve only had one or two bouts of feeling puny – thank goodness!
Other than the oj, music’s good, too. And there’s nothing like my kitty to make me feel better, quick!
No kitties here, but my furry Sheltie “nurse” stays close beside me — usually begging for food or a walk, ha! And I seriously wish I could drink OJ, but it upsets my stomach something fierce so I have to rely on other sources of Vitamin C. Thanks for the suggestions, Linda, and they must be working if you haven’t been sick in that long!