During these freezing months, I cry myself to sleep knowing that, come the next morning, I will be enveloped by crushing waves of cold. It is always a gruesome war when I am fighting the urge to stay under the blanket which has so kindly collected my warmth. After I finally fling away the soft, warm embrace of my sherbert colored blanket, I am showered with shivers and goosebumps.
For me, this is daily battle with nature is unarguably the least appealing aspect of winter which often leads me to wonder, how can I solve this consistent problem? The answer: hibernation. Bears must lead happy lives when they spend one fourth of the year sleeping. They never feel the pain of fighting off the morning chills because by the time they wake up, the cold will have been replaced by the sweet morning of spring.
Every so often I imagine what my life would be like as bear. I would probably be a grizzly bear for no specific reason; I like the word "grizzly." My yearly life would be rather simple. During the non-hibernation seasons, I would wake up in early in the morning and spend the whole day swimming in the river and hunting for fish. I would scowl at the occasional hikers who happened to cross my path. Then at nightfall, I would return to my favorite resting spot and fall into a slumber. It seems like such an appreciably simple life.
After doing some research, I found out that bears essentially spend their whole summer eating in order to store fat to survive through their hibernation. In addition to sleeping for a few whole months, they spend the rest of their lives just eating... How much better can it get?
So if one winter I just disappear, you will know where I have gone: somewhere warm to go into a deep slumber.
Wow, way to defy stereotypes and go for grizzly instead of panda! Your first paragraph gave me chills, just thinking of the inevitability of tomorrow morning. Q_Q
ReplyDeleteI think the bear analogy really works for you, Cleveland, knowing your ramenhead-ish tendencies (bears eat anything, right?). Additionally, I do not think that bears have to wear washed shirts for PE, or human clothing at all, so that's a plus, too! If I ever encounter you in the woods, please do not eat my children or my food. Especially my food.
Great post, David! I could feel the realness of what you were saying about waking up. Also, I love how the post takes a turn into talking about bears and the attractiveness of their lives...I agree completely and it was fun to read such an easy and descriptive (at the same time--tough feat to accomplish in writing!) Nice job!
ReplyDeleteYOU DON'T LIKE WINTER??? D:
ReplyDeleteOkay, I suppose it would be an understatement to say that I'm a hypothermophile (or whatever the technical term is), so I have very different views when it comes to cold weather. But I definitely understand why some people would like to just sleep through the winter months. As an added bonus, you wouldn't have to do first semester finals!
You're right! I never really thought about how amazing the life of a bear would be until now. All they have to do is eat and sleep: my two favorite activities! Also, they don't have to worry about much because everyone thinks they're big and scary so nobody really messes with them. I hope I'm a bear in my next life!
ReplyDeleteGrace Anastasio
WINTER SUCKS... in the morning, at least. I completely agree with your dilemma, David; I find it incredibly difficult to guarantee warmth in the winter season. Right now, I find that a system of a huge fluffy comforter under a heavy quilt with a cat sleeping on top seems to work the best in terms of blankets not falling off. Of course, if I had a nice, warm, fur coat like a grizzly bear, I suppose I wouldn't have to take such lengths to stay warm
ReplyDeleteNot to mention I wouldn't have to go to school...
Just wondering, where is Chapter 2?
--Julia
That's it. You've convinced me. I'm hibernating through the winter. It always gets so grey and dark, it's hard to wake up in the morning; and then it's even harder to get out from under your covers when the room is absolutely freezing. I can not think of a better time to be unconscious.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes I also wonder what it would be like to be an animal. All you'd have to do is eat and sleep, fight the occasional predator, and never worry about things like college and homework. Of course, there is some privilege in being able to think like we humans do. God, I hate the cold. I don't think I'll ever be able to love winter in all my life. I really love your posts, they're so well-written while rambling on, the way daydreams are supposed to go. :)
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