FOOL'S SPRING

I really dislike winter. But what I dislike even more than winter is the part of spring that is actually winter in disguise. Sometimes it’s March, often it’s April, occasionally it happens in May like it did in 2017…the year I decided I needed to get out and walk every day, even if the weather was terrible. That just made me colder and wetter while still loathing it.
Sometimes, though, you just need something to put it into perspective.

FOOL’S SPRING
May, 2017…

Part One:

"If I go for a nature walk I'll buy myself sushi...if I go for a nature walk I'll buy myself sushi...if I go for a...."

Pouring rain. Almost snow. Day 1 of my "Get Outside Every Day to Beat the 'Winter' Blues" plan.

Lesson learned: waterproof boots and waterproof coat ARE important.
Meh. Who decided getting outside every day no matter the weather is a good thing.

Part Two:

So all my complaining about getting soaked and cold on my walk yesterday was put into perspective on Day 2. Walking on the trail through the small conservation area near my house, I came across an older man in a sodden winter coat wrestling with a wind-whipped garbage bag that he was trying to tie over a tent to keep the rain out. Pointless, as the tiny tent was half collapsed and taking in water like a leaky boat. Lying beside the sagging tent were a bike, a pile of wet clothes, some garbage, and two waterlogged sleeping bags. He was mumbling to himself "Wet! Wet. They're all wet!"

I asked if he needed a hand. He said he was biking to Stratford to meet a friend who was going to take him to visit his niece. I offered him a wool blanket from my van. He took it, but refused all my repeated offers of food or a ride.

"I don't want to inconvenience you."
"You really won't be."
"Well I might not stay here. I might just keep biking."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm fine!" he said with a grin, returning to his repair job.

He told me he hadn't slept well the night before. "I was hoping the weather forecast would be wrong - sometimes they are, you know, when it's 3 or 4 days ahead. But it wasn't this time! I used to have a tarp, but I lost it. This tent is new. Walmart. $35 though...it's a cheap one. A guy bought me a sandwich and coffee yesterday, and told me how to bike to Stratford from here...that was nice!"

His name was Wayne. His tent didn't look new.
"I'm fine!" Wayne told me again, shivering in the 5 degree rain. "I'm really fine! I just need to block these gaps." He was trying to tie the garbage bag on with twine as we talked. "That blanket you gave me will really help me sleep."

I had to drive by the park again a couple hours later. I brought him some more stuff because how can someone possibly sleep in 5 degree weather with pouring rain in a leaky tent with soaked sleeping bags???!

"Oh, thanks," he said. "Thanks again. I'll just get these leaks fixed and I'll be fine." He shook my hand with a grin and went back to fixing his tent.

I ran back through the rain to my van.

And here's the thing...
I hate being cold. I hate being wet. I really hate being cold and wet.
And yet...I have a hot bath to return to after I finish my walk. And a warm bed.

Sometimes things happen to give you a little perspective.