In my next life, friends often hear me say, I want to be a meteorologist. Seriously: I should have studied meteorology when at university and taken a degree in it. As far as I can see, nothing is quite so enthralling and beautiful as the endless surge and countersurge of cold and hot air masses, the ebb and flow of wet and dry, high and low. Air masses the size of whole states constantly jostle for position, constantly egg each other on and shove each other off the continent into the Atlantic. Sometimes an atmospheric river or a hurricane sallies ashore, or a derecho or a tornado forms. Whatever is stirring in the skies, is dramatic. The skies, the clouds themselves and the huge air masses in which they are embedded, are like some grand Shakespearian play in which all the actors play tragedy and comedy all at once, tear in one eye, a smile in the other.

If we are to believe many climatologists this year, this winter promises to be a very dramatic time here in the Northeast. Back in the spring and summer some well-known patterns of water temperatures began to emerge in the Pacific, the Arctic, the Atlantic Oceans. These patterns interact with each other much like air masses do above ground. They drive our continental weather. By October some consensus was settling in about our coming winter. And the consensus is this: whether using the American model, the European model, or the Canadian model, most forecasters foresee an upcoming winter in the Northeast full to brimming with warm wet air surging up from the south and rivers of dry cold air plunging down from the north. It is a potentially very volatile mix. What also makes it somewhat predictable is that current water conditions in the three above-named oceans are emulating similar conditions in the autumn and winter of 2010 - 2011. Should any of you remember what a wickedly wintery winter the 2010-2011 winter was, we have cause for concern going into December and January this time around. We will have our hands full to cope with snow and wind and brutal cold.

All is not lost. The good people of our county who remain here in the winter are, in the main, a kind and gentle folk. We are also very social and prefer to get out of our room and mingle with others. Being social, at any time of year, is good for the mind and the body but maybe sociability is even more important in these darkest, coldest, most foreboding days of the year. Are you feeling down and gloomy for seeming want of light and warmth this December? Part of it may be simple loneliness and the need for companionship. Get out of the room, go for a walk in the forest, go into town, whatever you do: bestir yourself and get out of your room. Everything will seem lighter and better, less oppressive, when you do.

This coming Friday, December 5^th, at Veterans Memorial Park in Kauneonga Lake at 6:00 PM, the annual Christmas Tree lighting will take place. The proceedings are always delightful; if you have never been, do check in at the Kauneonga Lake Fire Station first. There will be face painting, donuts, hot chocolate, light and laughter and cheer. When the switch is thrown, the magnificent black tree in the center of the triangle suddenly blazes with spangles and lanterns and lights, an awe-inspiring sight! A bit later, out of the dark comes the sound of a distant firetruck, horn blaring and lights flashing. The truck screams to a halt and out steps Mrs. Klaus herself gaily distributing candy to child and adult alike. A total delight! This will be followed on Sunday, December 14^th by the equally delightful Menora Lighting in the same location. Treats will again be distributed to the music of Debbie and David. So, folks! Lots of lights and lots of laughter to come in this dark month. Let the weather do what the weather may: let’s keep plowing forward and make it a Season of Light!