Learning From Winter Jerry Apps photo

 

In 1956, I was in the army, stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, which is a few miles from Williamsburg.  I arrived there in January and the first thing I noticed was—they had no winter.  I saw a fellow washing his car.  Unheard of in Wisconsin in January.

            As strange as it may sound, I found myself missing winter.  I liked skiing and snow-shoeing.  I liked ice fishing.  I liked being outside on a snowy day, when big snowflakes were falling.  I missed the subtle sound as they fell.  I missed how beautiful the countryside was all dressed in white. I missed all of that in Fort Eustis, Virginia, while I wore an army uniform.

            Many years later I wrote a book titled THE QUIET SEASON: REMEMBERING COUNTRY WINTERS. PBS Wisconsin produced an hour-long documentary based on the book, titled FARM WINTER.  In the book and the TV show I talked  about winter, and its positive points.

            Here is a bit from the introduction to the book: “Over the years I have come to appreciate and even enjoy northern winters.  But I’ve also learned that there is more to winter than snow and ice and bitter cold.  Winter has shaped me in ways that go deeper than I am even aware.  Living through a real winter—a northern winter—affects how we think, influences what we believe is important, and causes us to relate to other people in a particular way.”

In the last chapter of the book I wrote, “Of all the seasons, winter is the most striking and most influential on the lives of the people who experience it. . . winter is more than cold and snow, frozen water pipes, slippery road, and dark and dreary days.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Think about it. There is much to be learned from a Wisconsin winter.

WHERE TO BUY MY BOOKS:

You can buy my books, including THE QUIET SEASON, at your local bookstore, order online from bookshop.org, or purchase from the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose—a fundraiser for them. Phone: 920-622-3835 for prices and ordering, or contact the librarian: barnard@wildroselibrary.
Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division Street
Wild Rose, WI 54984.
www.wildroselibrary.org

If you live in the western part of the state, stop at Ruth’s home town, Westby, visit Dregne’s.  and look at their great selection of my books. Order a book from them by calling 1-877-634-4414. They will be happy to help you.  If you live in northcentral Wisconsin, stop at the Janke bookstore in Wausau (phone 715-845-9648).  They have a large selection of my books.