Seth Pohorence
Courier staff writer

It’s that time of the year. People, of course, will be complaining about it, but I embrace it. Western New York is unpredictable about it. By now, you’ve realized I’m talking about winter. It’s that three-month period where most people I run into complain about the cold, the snow and how it never seems to end. I, for one, will hear none of it.

That’s right, I love winter. I love the snow; I love the ice; I love the cold. From my optimistic perspective, it’s all a part of nature’s life cycle. Winter is death to the green, plant world, but it will rise again. So for three months we do not enjoy the shade of a grand oak tree or pick fl owers, but we bundle ourselves up in coats, scarves and gloves and experience fl uctuating degrees of cold - especially this winter, one day it’s 58 then the next it’s 34.

But continuing on my optimistic view, when I was growing up, winter was great. The Saturdays and Sundays of my youth were spent on my pond. I’d spend hours, even in the most bitter cold or during a strong snow fall, skating cirlces, playing hockey and fl at-out enjoying the weather and the marvel of ice. If the ice wasn’t frozen enough to skate, I’d go sledding.

One spot I frequented as a child was Powder Mills Park. The hills there were glorious, steep and best yet, dangerous. My fondest recollection would be getting tboned by another sled. I still love these activities even now, and the thing is, you can only do this during winter!

Granted, when I mention this type of reasoning, most New Yorkers say they can’t embrace the cold weather and instead yearn for the Florida coast or even far west to California. Personally I have no problem with Florida or California, but come winter I’d rather be in New York. Or better yet, I want to be in Minnesota. If you think we have it bad, go to the Midwest. Now that’s a winter, where temperatures are so cold, lakes freeze for ice fishing.

So, what can you do to like winter? Well, fi rst turn this winter month into an enjoyment of life, because soon the snow will melt and the trees will blossom and the temperature will rise. Until then, go sledding, have a snowball fi ght or go ice skating. This advice may seem childish, but who cares? You only live once, and live that one life in winter!