Something Strange is Going On

It’s cold. It’s been raining all week, (and it’s supposed to continue doing so) and it’s gotten cold. The sky is gray and overcast, fallen leaves are littering the sidewalks…what madness is this? When we woke up this morning, the boys I and got dressed in long sleeves, warm pants, and put on socks. I’m eyeing the heaters – and I’ve got a craving for gingerbread and hot chocolate. (Um, to be honest, there’s a batch of gingerbread cookie dough in the fridge even now…)

I’m starting to think Japan knows I lived in Texas for four years and is just messing with me. This is ‘winter’ weather, but just last week the boys and I got sunburns at the beach. Talk about mixed messages, Mother Nature. I can’t even tell if this is the beginning of autumn, or if it’s just a cold and rainy week and we’ll go back to normal after the clouds move through.

I used to be really good at reading the weather. Now – we moved here in February, right? But there was snow everywhere, so I suddenly couldn’t stop humming Christmas carols. (Seriously. I didn’t stop till the snow melted in March.) Then as soon as real summer hit, let’s say in June, everything was ‘normal.’ Now, though, I feel surprised every time the idea comes up that summer might end. Intellectually, of course, I realize that Japan has four separate and distinct seasons – I just still expect summer to be three quarters of the year.

Oh, well. I do find cooler weather pleasant, and it’s very nice to play with yarn in; the boys will love cutting out cookies, and they’ll make great refreshments for the friends I have coming over tonight. If anyone says anything about reindeer cookies in August, I suppose I could always break out the Christmas carols – I’ve always liked ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’…