Only One Place Called Home

Vasu Reddy from Chicago
vasureddy@aol.com

In you have lived in the Chicago area for about 20 years, you notice the changes to the weather.  Winter is no longer 4 to 5 months long with snow, clod and blowing wind, where you must bundle up before venturing out.  There were Aprils where snow was still around.

It has become a standard phrase for long-time residents in the area to say, “I don’t miss the snow and wintry weather”.  The mid-west might have missed the year (several years) in having snow cover for four or five months, but it does impact the rest of the seasons.  Hot weather in May and not a white Christmas or New Year.  It is strange.

Our four seasons have their own charm, seasonality and importance.  One season leads to the other, people, farming, life-style, everything moderate each-other and life is in full cycle, all four seasons.  Each season with its own charm and importance and reason, keeping with the cycle of life.  Weather was predictable and life revolved around the seasons.

Landing in Chicago from India, you had to appreciate the seasons.  I always loved all the weather.  I look forward to each season, and have always been happy to see them change in front of your eyes.  The rain, snow, humidity (little), hot and wintry weather, and whatever mother nature decides in-between, was just fine.  You just dressed for the weather and moved on.  I believe in my whole driving career there was only one day was lost to a snow day and that too after I drive to work, I had to turn back and go home as there was no way to get into the parking lot.  The company was closed after I drove 25 miles from home to get to work; closed because of snow day.

Those of us who live here adjust quickly to the changes to the weather.  You can tune into new radio 780, and every hour you get ten weather updates, and many at times it does change quickly.

In the beginning of my time in the USA, I thought it was scam by the department stores, to change the seasons to sell their seasonal wear, and this happened constantly so I really believed that there was something sinister with weather and seasonal sales advertisements.

Once you appreciated the weather and the seasonality, you begin to enjoy the changes.  I still do, as well as my children.  There is not enough praise for the glory of mother nature and the beauty of earth.  The good earth.

In the last few years we no longer experience the four seasons in their full glory.  You could be democrat, republican or independent, or not eligible, you all know that there is something different with the weather.  It’s not just us in the mid-west, but the entire world is experiencing the unpredictable weather pattern.  With the irregular weather, we are also experiencing the consequences of unpredictable seasons.  It’s simply can’t be called severe weather, but it’s not natural and seasonal weather.

Don’t blame the politicians, or businesses or polluters.  Each of them are supported by the entire population.  We buy things that pollute the environment and make the businesses rich while they pollute, we give money to politicians who never keep their promises and we trash at every opportunity we get.  We also complain about the inclement weather.  We don’t want to think of the future.  It is east to consume and trash.  It is easy to blame someone else.  It is easy to exhaust the resources.  It is easy to eliminate millions of species.  It is easy to pollute the Earth and beyond.  We are smart and knowledgeable, we simply don’t care.