During spring break 2024, we explored Hilton Head and Savanah. Southern sunshine made summer clothes the right choice for a couple of days, otherwise we wore jeans and layers of shirts. Spring break 2025 we hunkered down during a Midwestern winter storm that included freezing rain, a quarter to half inch of ice, snow and wind.
A small generator, water stored for at least two days without an electric well pump, battery-powered lights and our propane grill awaited a human emergency. Nothing could be done about ice coating trees. With each wind gust, the clacking of iced tree limbs created a loud, grim sound. As the rain changed into sleet then then heavy snow, the original ice threatened to take down anything delicate. Birch trees bent gracefully. Pine trees looked tortured. One froze to other trees before they all dipped to our driveway to solidify there.
A large oak fell, its branch canopy crushed a garden area of plants transplanted from my deceased mother-in-law’s home, rose bushes and other lovely perennials. Its heavy fall and bounce over the septic system startled the dog and me. He barked. I wished I could howl.
Other years forsythia buds are tightly closed on early April branches. Daffodils poke out of the ground and hellebores send out leaves. This year, for a few nights of spring break, we kept emergency kits near our beds and tried not to think about whether we’d be awakened by a tree busting through windows or crashing on the roof.
When an actual sunrise brought an end to additional layers, walking remained ill-advised as large twigs or even larger branches jettisoned down around the clock. Birds sang in away, safer places. For days, the sound of falling ice and breaking tree parts filled the outdoors. Two more trees behind our house gave up the struggle.
Ten miles away trees remained free of ice, but water covered farm fields. Ducks bobbed about as if everything was normal. On April Fool’s Day, the day for a variety of elections in Wisconsin, we needed to clean up messes many folks only knew because of television coverage. Iced treetops looked like diamond decorated holiday trees, but the sound of the melting and dropping branches didn’t stop from Saturday until later Tuesday.
My first spring ice storm was less dangerous than a tornado or wildfire whipped by winds, but a few days of stretched nerves does not make for a vacation. Add the unknowns of trade war tariffs and mid-term elections to 2026 spring break weather surprises and we’ll hold off on making plans.
11 responses to “Disappearing—The Joy of Reading?”
I have an increasing number of friends — my age (very old) or a bit younger, who are “reading” recorded books. I always prefer a physical book (second, a book on my Kindle reader — usually from the library) to listening. But listening is also a skill and an alternative way of engaging with words. I wonder if the “kids” who don’t read would listen. I know that my 8 year old granddaughter already falls asleep listening to age-appropriate books…she has just started reading well enough that age appropriate “chapter books” are fun to read rather than challenging. We shall see…
Interesting thought! At least she hears the whole story and not just an excerpt. Seems like she’d still get a lot of the benefit.
I don’t want to live in a world without books! And it is very sad that many young people no longer like to read. They’re being raised on technology, and don’t have the patience or desire to read, I guess. But they’re missing out on something very special, and this doesn’t bode well for our future societies.
I worry too. The only impact I can think of is reading aloud to my granddaughters–not just toddler books but whole chapter books (if they’ll let me).
It’s odd….and often disconcerting…that after reading at least a book a week for my entire adult life (I started keeping annual “books read” lists back in 1982, when I was an English lit grad student), I find myself drawn to podcasts. The 20 to 30 to 50 minutes they typically require (even less if I listen to them on doublespeed), feels a better fit for my retirement lifestyle. I particularly appreciate that I can listen to them while cleaning, driving and working out.
That’s interesting! I also listen to podcasts, so reading + podcasts. One of my favorite is The Moth, so still stories.
Are yours more informative –akin to reading articles?
I had forgotten the Moth and just resubscribed. Some of the podcasts I listen to are informative/educational, others are entertaining. Am unsure why my reading has fallen off, do hope it’s only temporary.
I can’t imagine life without the escape of a good book. I agree that shorter attention spans are a robber of sorts. Humans invented labor-saving devices to create more leisure time, but in some respects, those devices are robbing us of true leisure.
It’s funny how our attention has become a precious commodity. It’s easy to bog down and get distracted from activities we like.
I wish they would too Ellen! I can’t imagine not reading. Too much time on the internet!
I hate to think reading would disappear as a passtime!