The weather has turned from chilly to downright cold, and the temperature change stirs up feelings and memories once forgotten and pushed aside during the warmer months.
I am reminded of fireplaces and s’mores, being excited over six inches of snow and breaking out the heavy jackets when it is below 50 degrees. In Mississippi, we wear shorts and flip-flops after Halloween and freak out when we can see our breath during the daytime in January.
For me, the cold weather brings about an unexplainable nostalgic feeling, as I think more and more about my childhood in Jackson and coming home after elementary school to a roaring fire after we moved to Long Beach. Yes, we did have fires in Long Beach, because as I said, we freak out when it is below 50 degrees outside.
The cold weather seems to bring people together, mainly because of the need for warmth. Whether it is a disgustingly cute couple cuddling on the couch, or a bunch of friends laying down under blankets to not see the meteor shower, the cold weather brings with it added intimacy.
What is better than celebrating a Bulldog road victory than gathering around a fire pit with 10 of your closest friends and singing country songs for two hours? The cold weather also helps me stay productive, as it is not as tempting to take a break for Frisbee or a bike ride.
The cold weather mostly makes me remember home. Drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows and listening to Aaron Neville’s Christmas album while helping Mom decorate the tree is a tradition I look forward to every year. The cold weather helps me remember all of the good things about coming home after a long semester away. From the delicious smell of Mom’s cinnamon rolls wafting through the house on my first Saturday back to playing football every December afternoon with neighborhood guys, the cold weather makes me remember the good things about coming home.
Let us not forget what the cold weather does here at Mississippi State. We’re forced to watch the Weather Channel for the first time all year or take a quick step outside the apartment in order to the make the “long sleeves or light jacket” decision.
And then of course, there’s the weather which cannot make up its mind. Cold in the morning, blazing hot in the middle of the day (in jeans and long sleeves) and then freezing at night. However, there is no better feeling than rushing home to your dorm or apartment after that last late-afternoon class to crank the heat and cozy up on the couch.
Starbucks and Strange Brew come out with their special holiday blends and the local stores begin to stock their maroon winterwear when the leaves start changing and falling. Yup, the cold weather season is definitely here in Starkville.
The cold weather is here, so bundle up and enjoy it. Yes, I would rather be sweating than freezing – now. However, when April rolls around and the rest of the country is enjoying spring while we sweat just from walking to class, we will long for the wind chill of 40 which makes us run for the long sleeve part of the closet.
In Mississippi, we have a small part of the year which warrants fires and cuddling under blankets at Noxubee Refuge. We should enjoy it while it last. Who knows, we may even see some white stuff on the ground again this year.
Ben Leiker is a sophomore majoring in biological engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].