Navigating Seasons

“The leaves fall, the wind blows, and the farm country slowly changes from summer cotton into its winter woods.” ~ Henry Beston

In today’s musings blog about seasons I’m comparing and contrasting the arrival of spring here in Brazil with the autumnal equinox in Canada. I hadn’t thought much about it before embarking on the long journey from the northern hemisphere to the south, but now that I’m here, I find it quite fascinating. It’s my first time in South America, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m discovering elements in the natural world that remind me of both Saudi Arabia and Panama, which I suppose isn’t that surprising when you consider their similar distances from the equator.

September 22 is the official first day of fall in Canada, but the change of season is already well underway. When I left on August 27, the leaves had begun to turn from various shades of green to hues of golden yellow. Before they fall, depending on the species of tree, they will turn burnt- orange, fire-red and rust-brown. Grass is slowly turning brittle and the colour of dry hay. There is a chill in the air early mornings. The 10-day forecast in Winnipeg shows lows down to twelve degrees Celsius and highs of twenty-five, the humidex 63%, with a mix of rain, sun and cloud.

Here in Brazil, September 22 is the official first day of spring and the the end of dry season. The grass is parched, thirsty for the coming deluge of rains. The air is still hot and dry, with low humidity warnings showing up on the weather apps, but the shift is coming. The ten-day forecast shows lows dropping from twenty to sixteen on the twenty-fifth and the highs from thirty-two to twenty-five the same day. The humidex is 28%, but there is a possibility of rain next week.

While I’m looking forward to the refreshing feeling of rain, I’m dreading the appearance of mosquitos, which I’m told are a part of rainy season, and can be carriers of Dengue in this part of the world. I saw first-hand the toll that illness can have on the human body when my son-in-law returned from vacation in Thailand many years ago having contracted the disease. It was serious, and he needed to be admitted to hospital for several days. Rest assured, I’ll be exercising caution.

When Mister and I made the decision to retire in Panama back in 2017, I’d imagined the consistent, hot temperatures year-round would suit my constitution. I’d become accustomed to the heat living in Saudi Arabia, and thought two seasons, dry and rainy, would be a welcome shift from Canada’s four seasons, and in particular, the long, brutally cold winters. But when life threw us a curveball and we ended up returning to Canada in November 2023, I was surprised by how much I revelled in the experience of Canadian seasons—even winter in “Winter-peg!”

I realize now that the comfort of what you know can be a salve for the soul. At heart, I am a Canadian prairie girl. Born in Saskatchewan, my family moved from small town to small town. When I was six years old we moved to Alberta, and then at ten to northern BC. Tragic circumstances had us move again when I was fourteen to Calgary, Alberta, my first time in a big city. I lived there, other than a brief stint of three years up North, for almost thirty years.

That first winter in Winnipeg came as a bit of a shock to the system. I didn’t have the proper clothing for fall, let alone winter. But Mister was in hospital battling a severe health challenge for five weeks, so it wasn’t until mid-January that we ventured out to purchase winter gear. Once I had a cozy warm parka and boots, I rediscovered how special the season of winter can be. On one of my first walks to a store in our neighbourhood, crunching over the snow-covered pedestrian path over the Assiniboine river, the hoar frost magically transforming the black branches of trees to white, thousands of fond, happy memories resurfaced.

I believe that witnessing seasonal changes in nature has the opportunity to remind us of our own internal and external shifts as human beings navigating a complex world. When I look at the black, leafless trees in winter, that appear as though they must be permanently dead, I am reminded of my own resilience and ability to transform. We all go through seasons of difficulty as well as those of ease. We all experience hardships and have to learn how to manage stressful situations. It isn’t about avoiding the natural rhythms of life, it’s about growing and maturing in strength and wisdom to pull through, overcome, and endure.

COMING UP…

Books & Projects:

·      All four of my books are available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find them at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.

·      I am still determined, pursuing representation from a traditional publisher for my fifth literary fiction, a psychological drama that explores the complexities of mental illness and trauma. Stay in touch by signing up for my blog or following me on social media to find out when it will be published.

Reviews & Interviews:

·      You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.

Events:

·      There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.

YouTube Channel:

·      Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer.

·      Watch The Holding trailer.

·      Watch The Healing trailer.