Swords of winter
Greet my eyes
On the porch
Just after dawn.
Cold icy winds
Tears in eyes
As I smoke
My last Tarrington.

That was the deal this morning. I'm out on the porch, smoking my last cigarette, tears streaming down from my eyes because it's 14 degrees and a high wind is blowing across the bogs and up the hill to the porch. I look at the walkway down to the car park...the stones are sheer frozen glass and I think to myself "Do I chance it or should I wait for the sun to melt the treacherous ice?' I take one last drag, change my birkenstocks to boots, and head out the door, slipping and sliding to the car park. What the hell...why quit now?




Comments: 36
Happy and blissful Holiday season - S.
Thank you and...
Or was it the last one until you go get more?
I love your icicles, I remember as a child ejoying them like they were cold lolipops or something? Oh the magic of winter!!
Good work as usual, Bob.
Well, I managed to get down to the car park without a fall. The windshield on the CRV was covered with beautiful icy lace...wish I had remembered the camera...but I wasn't going back. After I bought several packs of cigs went to grocery store...figured why not...I'm out and about. Only one other customer was in the store...no wait lines. Going early to the grocery store certainly has its benefits.
You are just so upbeat. "The magic of winter"...my eye!
Not a bad idea. Will has a bike helmet in the closet. I could put that on top of my knit hat. Wouldn't I be stylish?
It's snow here instead of ice, though I do have some ice hanging from my Christmas lights. As of an hour ago, I've had 40 inches of snow since last Wed AM. Is there an off switch somewhere? I'm very tired of shoveling!
I stopped in '75 after 3 years, but I had become a 2 pack a day in that time. I WILL WARN YOU:
THE CRAVINGS MIGHT BE SEVERE, but don't let that deter you.
I developed cravings every time I had coffee or booze. I took up running IMMEDIATELY when the cravings started. I started a slow jog for 1/4 mile EVERYTIME i developed a craving. Then I started walking 2 miles each way to work.
I did have cravings for 7 years - but I NEVER WENT BACK.
MY STEPMOM DIED OF LUNG CANCER, and she only smoked for a few years.
MOST PEOPLE WHO SMOKE NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP LUNG CANCER BECAUSE THEY DIE OF HEART DISEASE FIRST.
Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Also, when I saw the words "Swords" I knew what it was about.
Lovely write.
Congrats for stopping, hon.
There's open water on the pond now and the wind is gusting so much that there are actual white caps but on the edges of the pond, it is beginning to ice over. This has been the strangest winter...several weeks ago the pond was sheer glass for a day or two and then we had that heat wave come up the coast and all the ice melted...now it looks like it's trying to ice over once more...but with the high winds, it can't take hold.
At some point today I need to go out shopping. I don't have Will this year to urge me on so I have been rather a slow poke about going to the mall. The whole idea of mall shopping frightens me!
I will take snow any day compared to ice. Papa just got a call from the neighbors and he has to make a pharmacy run for them.
I'm back inside for a little while but I do need to go out later in the afternoon when Papa gets through with his errands and finish up the Christmas shopping. At times like this, I wish I knew how to knit. Early this morn I saw the scarf Jan knitted for her son. Maybe I'll take up knitting when I retire?!?
uh ... nope! sit me in front of my computer and i can happily keep tippy typing as ross calls it, for weeks :)
I love the images .... look a bit like the inside of my fridge, only far more beautiful.
About the ice, you can get the grippers for the bottom of your boots or shoes at any hardware/tire/farm store.
and i have to admit, i thought the tears were because it was your last butt, bot because of the wind. silly me...