Everyone’s emotions change with the seasons
The leaves turn from a lush green to orange, bronze and a golden yellow. It starts to get cooler in the mornings and frost covers the grass like a blanket, making a soft crunch when you walk over it. You start to think about waking up in the morning but instead of it being light outside it’s dark instead. You think of leaving the bus stop early in the morning on the bus, and how at that one moment before the bus reaches the main road, how everyone turns and looks out the left window to catch the first rays of sunlight spreading across the sky before the bus turns away.
Kids turn up to school half asleep in puffer jackets and hoodies listening to music. We all walk around lazily from class to class watching our breath hang in the cool air. Once the sun has fully risen it melts away the frost and clears away the clouds, promising a sunny day with a cool winter breeze. Most of us are just waiting for the mountains to be topped off with a dump of snow so we can go skiing or snowboarding. Others are just waiting till school is over, for the weekend, or for Summer to return. But I don’t think any of us would mind being able to sleep in just a little bit longer.
After three months the fluffy white snow starts to melt away on the mountains showing tussocks and rock, giving way to Spring and Spring gives way to Summer. Ski and snowboard gear is put away and togs, paddle boards and kayaks are brought out. People start planning trips for the Summer Christmas holidays like visiting family, going surfing or having a classic kiwi barbeque. Everyone is looking forward to not having to be bundled up in thick layers of clothes, and to finally be able to go swimming with their friends on our countries hot summer days. Ads on TV are showing deals for Christmas gifts so people drive out to the big cities to go shopping. Kids float down the river and jump off the bridge on the days where it feels too hot to stand. Boats are swarming the lake like bees, towing people behind on biscuits, waterskis and wakeboards. Every morning the sun burns through the clouds and we all get ready happily for another warm summer day, because everyone’s emotions change with the seasons.