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changing seasons, choices, fulfilled, Healthy Happy Loving Life, Kebba Buckley Button, living beyond, memories, Stress of Life's Surprise Turns, sudden winter
© 2020 Kebba Buckley Button. World Rights Reserved.
Photo © Kebba Buckley Button
For many years, I have lived in Phoenix. We have mainly sunny and warm-to-hot weather year round, and I love that. But many of my fondest memories are tied to the sensory joy of changing seasons. I enjoy every season. The cleansing cold of winter, the new life of Spring, the sustaining softness of Summer, and the astonishing transition colors and smells of Fall: all move me deeply. I like to just stop and be present to the sky, the sights, the air, and the smells of each season.
But most moving to me are the sudden changes that sometimes abruptly introduce the next season. Sudden Winter is most awesome to me. And sometimes, Sudden Winter jumps in, not following Fall, but in Spring or Summer. In April several years ago, I got to experience this in Denver.
I had prepared for the trip by packing clothes that could work comfortably in 90-degree heat or as cold as 40 degrees. I had it nailed for the week. I knew Denver weather could be very changeable. But no one, including the meteorologists, saw a 2-day blizzard coming.
Suddenly, intense winds brought in swirling heavy snow. Denver road traffic and air traffic came to a near halt. It was 5 degrees outside my hotel, having dropped from 60 degrees the day before. Fortunately, in Denver, most Uber vehicles are SUVs with 4-wheel drive and year-round tires. So I caught a ride to the nearby REI store and bought some weatherproof winter clothes. I was the only customer in the massive store. The rest of Denver was frozen in place. I arranged with the REI manager to wear my new clothes out the door, into the bitter and blowing cold.
Photo © Kebba Buckley Button
I could hardly walk in that wind. Meeting my return Uber in the parking lot, I gripped a utility pole to stay upright. The wind was so intense that it whipped my glasses off my face! I grabbed them midair as they fell, knowing I would never find them again in the blinding snowstorm, if they dropped into the several inches of snow. I could only see anything by holding my spread fingers in front of my eyes.
Then my huge safe warm SUV Uber arrived, sweeping me back to my hotel…where I remained for several more days, until the Denver International Airport opened again. But, don’t feel sorry for me! Once I arranged to extend my Oxford Hotel stay, this became a delightful Winter vacation. Between waves of snowfall, I walked downtown Denver in my new warm clothes and boots, taking photos of the urban snowscape and fresh flowers topped with snow.
After each photo foray, it was back to the Hotel and those sweet moments of blowing into the warmth of the lobby, smelling the fireplace fire, and pulling off my gloves and scarf. Feeling my face happily thawing out and relaxing, I was in pure joy. I was creating some of the most wonderful memories of my life. I was truly Healthy, Happy, and Loving Lifesm!
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Kebba Buckley Button is a stress solutions expert and award-winning author who celebrates life. She also has a longtime natural healing practice and is an ordained minister. Among her books are: Discover The Secret Energized You (http://tinyurl.com/b44v3br), Inspirations for Peace Within: Quotes and Images to Uplift and Inspire, and Sacred Meditation: Embracing the Divine. The books are available on Amazon and through Kebba’s office. To email us, kebba@kebba.com .
Books by Kebba Buckley Button
Healthy Happy Loving Life! 
Oh my gosh! I nearly grabbed hold of my glasses as I read about your experience in that windy parking lot!!! I’m glad that you maintained possession of them! And it sounds like the rest of your time in Denver was unexpected fun. There’s nothing better than exploring a different place with a camera. And having comfortable warm clothing is definitely a bonus!
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Alice, I’m so glad you related to my piece! Yes, I loved the Oxford Hotel and its comforts, plus the unexpected chance to photograph fresh-frozen flowers. (Although they weren’t very peppy at posing, so I had to simply angle around them to get my shots.) Secretly, I loved not being able to fly out! I haven’t been snowed in since high school, and that was in Bangor, Maine, in a cozy house; so I never suffered. 🙂
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What a wonderful way to look at the situation! I don’t think I’d mind being in a nice hotel during a blizzard. As long as there was room service. 😊
The latest blizzard I was experienced was on my birthday, March 11 when I lived in southwest Michigan. Being home and not having to go to work was a very delightful birthday!
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Angie, yes! There is a superb in-house restaurant and also room service. Wow, I am so glad you had a snowed-in birthday. What a delight!
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My heart stopped, too, when I read the part about your glasses! But other than that, it does sound like a wonderful experience. Especially warming up by the fireplace.
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Jeanine, my heart stopped too! I was so frightened of losing my glasses in the snow! They are small and have nearly invisible rims, plus silvery earpieces. I could have stepped on them if they had hit the ground (grey pavement) and never felt it. Very disarming! I never imagined being in wind that could tear them off my face! But the best thing about wintry conditions is stepping back into your warm, cozy (hygge) space and starting to warm up again. Thanks for understanding!
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OMG, what great descriptive story! I was picturing everything including your glasses blowing off as I read it! Sounds like you made the best of it though!
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Thanks, Martha! It did actually end up awesome!
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