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November 2009 
What does winter mean for you?
Posted on Dec 21st, 2008
by 
Geo
Geo
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 21, 2008:
Winter means long hours, cold weather, mobs of tourists, each one sillier than the last, and very, very little sleep.
This is the time of year when Aspen and our surrounding little towns swell from around 8,000 people to over 30,000, all in the same amount of space, of course.
So, today is my first day shift in some time and I awoke this morning around 2:30, the usual time I tend to go to bed when on a night shift. I gave up at 5, got up and made some orange juice, cereal and started my coffee. Currently, on my little porch there are no degrees whatsoever. They have all left and gone to warmer climes, I think. So, I lay out the clothes I will need for a 10 hour shift of switching back and forth from standing outside in our weather and directing traffic around the latest wreck, or in my patrol car, or at our version of an airport trying to keep everyone calm, if not civil, at least.
On my days off, though, is when I leave the confines of our town and get out to explore the white emptiness of Colorado in winter. Strange as all the color seems to be sucked out of the environment which, in summer, can be so vibrant and verdant. It can be a bit of a challenge with my camera as I have to think in black and white with lots of gray tones in between.
Growing up, my school was the harbor and refuge from a Wisconsin winter and I was wise to pick a desk near the old cast iron steam radiators. Warm in winter, and near a window in fall and spring. Then, winter was a long trudge in darkness to school, hours spent trying to pay attention long enough to get the concept, then I could drift off into my own little world until I heard a voice asking me if I had heard anything just said?!
So, far now, winter will mean lots of work, very early mornings, some missed days at the gym and darkness.
This is the time of year when Aspen and our surrounding little towns swell from around 8,000 people to over 30,000, all in the same amount of space, of course.
So, today is my first day shift in some time and I awoke this morning around 2:30, the usual time I tend to go to bed when on a night shift. I gave up at 5, got up and made some orange juice, cereal and started my coffee. Currently, on my little porch there are no degrees whatsoever. They have all left and gone to warmer climes, I think. So, I lay out the clothes I will need for a 10 hour shift of switching back and forth from standing outside in our weather and directing traffic around the latest wreck, or in my patrol car, or at our version of an airport trying to keep everyone calm, if not civil, at least.
On my days off, though, is when I leave the confines of our town and get out to explore the white emptiness of Colorado in winter. Strange as all the color seems to be sucked out of the environment which, in summer, can be so vibrant and verdant. It can be a bit of a challenge with my camera as I have to think in black and white with lots of gray tones in between.
Growing up, my school was the harbor and refuge from a Wisconsin winter and I was wise to pick a desk near the old cast iron steam radiators. Warm in winter, and near a window in fall and spring. Then, winter was a long trudge in darkness to school, hours spent trying to pay attention long enough to get the concept, then I could drift off into my own little world until I heard a voice asking me if I had heard anything just said?!
So, far now, winter will mean lots of work, very early mornings, some missed days at the gym and darkness.
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I’ve been writing some about this too. curiously, part of what I wrote in my notebook was that I envied your relationship to winter, and Farland’s, though I know they’re different. you seem to me to engage with winter in a way that has strength and creativity. stay warm.
I loved the part with ”Currently, on my little porch there are no degrees whatsoever. They have all left and gone to warmer climes, I think.” Made me smile… Wish a warm and Happy Christmas with your beautiful family Geo :)))
The photo is wonder-full… I am always touched by your photos… they are magic for me, like your soul is melting inside ofthem…
I have never seen rocks like that. they are so colorful, like leaves in the fall.
Those reddish rocks, or maroon, are from the surounding mountains and are rich in iron, so they actually “rust” a bit and turn those wonderful colors. Castle Creek then tumbles them, humbles them rumbles them downstream. And that’s how Colorado got it’s name, or should I say, Color Rojo!
like the rock tumbler I used to have.
I love it when I learn something new. I never knew that about Colorado. thank you.
in the very almost farthest northwestern part of iceland there is a coastal road in a fjord where the rocks where being tumbled oh so noisily by the waves and it was so amazing. jenni – it was very like a gargantuan rock tumbler. my brother had a rock tumbler when we were kids. the giant natural ones called rivers and oceans are way, way cooler though. :-)
Beautiful picture…I can almost hear the water and the snow crunching with each footstep. It’s such a joy to experience your day vicariously…thank you.