Around the Corner

Berlin and I continue to have a very passionate relationship. My first Berlin winter has provided record highs of snow and record lows of temperature. Marion told me the other day that its the coldest winter in 60 years and the snowiest in 30. Everyone who is from here keeps saying, "It hasn't been like this since I was a kid."

And people keep asking how it is for me...

Its been cold, really cold. Its the kind of cold that makes you feel like you are in an emergency. Like everytime you step outside your only urgent mission is to get inside again, immediately if not sooner. The snow and snow rain and then the re-freezing brings a glass-like cover to the concrete that is virtually impossible to walk on without slipping. Apparently the german reputation for efficiency is overruled by compassion when it comes to the streets as they refuse to put down salt on the roads to avoid the neighborhood dogs from consuming too much and getting sick. Good for pooches, bad for people. Your nose burns with the chill and your chest hurts when you breath too deeply so you find yourself taking short breaths. All the while you are expending so much energy by doing the simplest things (like walking) and you're not able to give your body the oxygen it craves.

But today, the thaw began.

I remember my friend Patrick had mentioned how the winter is here. He had described it as "unfriendly" saying that people don't look you in the eye. I thought to myself that I would never be that way. But I discovered this winter that in addition to being so cold you can't even see straight, there is so much slippery potential that you are always looking down to make sure not to eat it on the pavement!

But today, I looked people in the eyes.

And it reminded me that the only thing consitant is change. The only thing I know for sure is that this is all temporary. So enjoy, press on, love, breath, endure, luxuriate, dance, move forward ~ always knowing that this too shall pass because there is always another season just around the corner...