It’s a chilly winter morning, right in the middle of the longest part of the cold season in the Pocono Mountains. I glance out my window – there is usually a family of deer in my front yard in the morning, and there they are again today in the cold twilight.
I put my sweatshirt on, and then my jacket. When I open the door to go start my car, the deer all perk up and dash away into the woods outside of my fence. I smell the familiar scent of fireplace smoke, not far. With the deer gone comes complete silence. Almost eerily silent. No birds. No bugs. No people. Am I the only fool up so early? I start my car, breaking the silence with the slow and steady hum of engine, and then I scurry back inside into the warmth.
Downstairs the pellet stove quietly but diligently provides a baseline of comfort for my house. I make some hot coffee, walk over to the glass sliding door, and look out to admire the outside world through the glass – a painting, a masterpiece – while I sip my coffee inside where it is warm.
Stirrings from other places. Teenagers emerge from elsewhere in the house, ready for a ride to the bus stop. A ride to a ride. The freeloading felines start circling their food bowls on the floor, their leader making sure to squeak out his cutest “meows” as an un-snoozable alarm for breakfast. Food for the cats, and the kids are in the car.
We slowly traverse the tundra about a mile or so to the bus stop, where we wait alongside other brave souls who have done similar. The bus pulls up, “have a good day” and the kids load up, the bus pulls out, and everybody leaves. Just the sounds of machines moving through the twilight, all scooting one of two ways – back to the warmth of home, or out to the main road. I scoot home.
I get out of my car and chatter, “Cold, cold, cold,” to myself as I hurry about 30 feet to the front door, where I hurry inside and close it quickly so the cold doesn’t catch me!
Another fine day in paradise – just bundle up.
A quiet life in the Poconos includes many winter mornings that start just like this – cold, quiet, serene, a few deer, and hot coffee.
Living Pocono 