Winter Fog

Is what happens after days and days of sub-freezing temperatures followed by an unseasonable warm-up. To be clear, I don’t mind winter in winter. I love sledding, skating, and skiing. Walks in snowy woods 

This a.m. I awoke to a gloomy fog. The weekly forecast calls for temps to rise to near 50 degrees. It’s still January.

The low cloud cover harbors a murky odor: diesel from the distant roadway, methane, perhaps, laundry detergent, eggs cooking on a stovetop, something musky and earthy. The ground softening after the intense cold. Mother Nature confused, once again.

Then, onto a barren twiggy branch, alights a cardinal in his red dress and I’m startled into joy.