For weeks I’ve been in denial about the arrival of winter. Above average November temps helped me ignore my sunshine cravings as the days got shorter and shorter. My enablers, who meant well but have left me in a terrible fix, were the brave little violas in the garage flower garden and the optimistic snapdragons and dianthus blooming near the foundation of our sun porch.
But when it snowed yesterday and the temperatures plummeted into the teens last night, I went into a major withdrawal. Spiders on the wall, pink elephants, tremors – you name it, I’ve got it – and believe me, it’s no way to live. Therefore, I’ve decided to join a twelve step program. It’s time to admit the truth or I won’t make it through the winter.
I’m a fair weather friend. I mainline sunshine and warm temperatures on a daily basis for nine months of the year, and I need to stop. I need help to make it through the winter, more than watching Elvis, Annette Funicello, Donavon and Gidget frolic at the beach. Vicarious sunshine on a grainy DVD doesn’t even touch my cravings anymore, and with two kids getting married soon there’s no money for week long sunshine fix in Cancun this year.
However, I can’t do this alone. I need the support of others struggling with sunshine and warmth addictions and the encouragement of former users. We need to band together and meet every week in a dingy church basement. We can all bring our seasonal affective disorder happy lamps and bask in a greenish glow while we eat lots of dark chocolate to boost our antioxidants.
If you’re ready to admit your sunshine addiction and find help, leave a comment or send me an email. Won’t it be wonderful to be free and able to live normal lives again? Together we can make it happen. I know we can.
Sunshine addicts, unite!
