By Jamie Rieger

Believe it or not, I am sitting here with the patio doors open, letting the fresh air filter in to get rid of the stale air that has accumulated in the house over the past few weeks.
It took three weeks for that long cold snap to finally snap and allow us to comfortably breathe in some fresh air. With temperatures hovering just above the freezing point, it feels like springtime compared to the cold, blustery weather we have all been contending with...not to mention the icy roads, blowing snow, and shoveling sidewalks.
As I look over the railing of my balcony, I can see tracks where deer have wandered through my yard, most likely in the search for a food source. He did not have to leave a treat behind for me, though!  And, I can hear the call of a blue jay coming from a tree across the alley. Ah, I am enjoying this as I take a long swallow of my morning coffee.
I am savouring this moment because I know it will be fleeting. It is the middle of January after all. Pleasant temperatures are being forecast for this entire week, but as anybody living on the prairie knows, Mother Nature is known for changing her mind abruptly and the weather can turn nasty real fast.
The people in eastern Canada, Europe, and the United States are now experiencing the bitter cold that was gripping the prairies for the past few weeks, and while it would be easy to let out a giggle especially when watching on TV the driving patterns of those unaccustomed to winter driving and because of the weeks of intense driving we have had here, I stifle my giggling from couchside. In fact, on Sunday, southern Alberta was warmer than parts of Florida.
Here, this is winter as we are used to and it is probably a pretty normal one at that. For them, they are seeing snow and cold unlike any winter in the past couple decades. Some have probably never had to drive on snow and ice before. And forget about snow removal, they just have not made the investment for the heavy equipment. Heck, we have the graders, snowplows and sanders, and the fine city of Medicine Hat has been lackadaisical in keeping their roads clear this winter.
Watching the cars spin out of control on TV, I want to yell, "Get your damn foot off the brake and put the car into neutral!" That reflexive action is automatic for those of us who are used to driving in the winter. They are probably gripped with fear at that moment and slamming on the brake just seems like the right thing to do at the time.
For now, though, because I know this reprieve from the cold is likely to be brief, I am going to enjoy the nice weather. Hearing the dripping of water from the eavestrough, listening to the birds chirping, and breathing in the fresh air are moments that shall be cherished.