Word of the Week: denial
de·ni·al
[dih-nahy-uh
l]
–noun
1. an assertion that something said, believed, alleged, etc., is false
2. refusal to believe a doctrine, theory, or the like.
3. disbelief in the existence or reality of a thing.
4. the refusal to satisfy a claim, request, desire, etc., or the refusal of a person making it.
5. refusal to recognize or acknowledge; a disowning or disavowal
A few months back awful, terrible, dark rumors began circulating. I heard them and decided to blissfully ignore them. You wouldn’t believe what people were saying!
They claimed… they warned… they alluded to the fact that we were going to have a harsh winter.
I chose to go forth in a state of denial. I was already having issues dealing with the fact summer had left me in its dust. You didn’t expect me to embrace the reality of a cold, long, snowy winter, did you?
When my BFF emailed some happy little statement about wanting it to snow few weeks ago, I quickly lambasted her with a scathing email reminding her of all the reasons we (using that term really loosely, here) hate the snow. The cold, the mess, the smelly mittens, and – my personal humungous reason – driving to work in it every day. Ever tried driving through a town that rarely plows? Stop lights become torture devices made to turn my hair gray at an even more rapid rate.
As a kid, I remember being excited beyond anything when it snowed. But things are different when you live on a farm, attend a country school where your Dad or older brother can drop you off via the snowmobile, and have 106 reasons to enjoy the snow. Sledding, ice skating, snowmobiling, snow forts and gallons of hot chocolate were among the top reasons I loved the snow as a kid. It was awesome and fabulous and if school got closed, who cared? There was snow to play in!
Now, as an adult, who must drive into town to a job that does not close due to inclement weather, I find myself looking at the snow with disgust, irritation and dread. I’m fairly certain I’d have a whole different attitude if I could stay home and watch the feathery flakes drift down outside the window while I sat cozied up to the fire with a good book and a spicy hot cup of tea.
But since that fantasy isn’t happening, I guess for now I’ll have to suck it up and stop being in denial.
My denial of the impending doom… er, snow came to a halt yesterday. When I walked out of church, a few fine flakes had started falling. By the time I got home, there was no ignoring the fact it was trying to snow. By the time mid-afternoon rolled around and the ground was completely covered, I gave in.
I was, however, happy to see I was not the only living thing in denial.
So were my beautiful red geraniums.
And my sweet little sweet peas.
Not to mention my prolific parsley plant.(Sigh).
Wishing I lived in Arizona,
Shanna
Savvy Entertaining 