Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Greetings! This is the first post for a new theme. For the heck of it, I thought I’d give this one a try. I’m calling it “This or That Thursday.” Apologies if I’m stepping on toes here. I know, I know it’s not Thursday, but this coming week, I plan to participate in Marketing for Romance Writers Monthly Blog Challenge. So, today I’m introducing my theme early, so next week I’m not posting jibber-jabbering’s too close together—Thursday and Friday. It makes sense in my head.

Without inquiring into a multitude of articles and posts like this one or this one, I don’t know if this topic has a specific day like Thursday Thoughts, for example. Twitter has a This or That page. I don’t plan on using a Hashtag for the theme. Or is this a meme?

I’m unsure if I’ll post this topic weekly, but if I do, it’ll be three times a month, for the reason stated in the first paragraph. Let’s see how this plays out.

This or That questions have been around a while and has rules and games to play. Silly me, thinking I had a good idea for a blog post theme all on my own.

Until I check out the specifics, I’ll post a picture and write a little about which one I like. Feel free to join in by posting a comment.

I’m torn on this one. I live in Michigan, a Winter Wonderland. I’d betray my state if I chose palm trees. However, the older I get, the more I detest snow. When we have the first snowfall of the year, I want to cozy up with a blanket and a hot beverage to enjoy looking out at the changing landscape. I don’t mind a white Christmas. After that, it can melt and not come back. 🙂

The reality is, I don’t drive on snowy roads. I’m not an outdoorsy person anymore. This sets limitations on where and when I go anywhere, including going outside to walk—the cold also contributes to not taking a stroll in the snow—toes, nose, and hands freezing. It’s quiet while walking in the snow. Peaceful. But then you must clean off vehicles and shovel snow. In my case, the plow leaves chunks of snow and ice behind my car in my parking space at the apartment. Fortunately, I have a kind, young neighbor who clears it when he can.

Thirty-five-degree temperatures aren’t too bad if there is no wind. It’s fun to make a snowman. I have a pleasant memory of playing in two-feet of snow with my husband on our property in Pennsylvania one wintry weekend. To this day, I have no idea why he thought he could drive the car to the storage shed at the rear of the property. Chains on the tires did not help. We both shoveled and pushed out the car and made a path to back it out—laughing all the while. And sweating. Yes, you can sweat in the cold.

I tell my boys who live on different coasts of the United States, that I long to spend winters with them to escape the snow and cold. They see snow periodically in the winter, but it isn’t like in Michigan. As I write this post, it’s snowing in Virginia where my youngest son and daughter-in-law live. My oldest in Northern California can drive a little over an hour to see snow that’s six-feet deep. I know, I’ve seen it myself on a jaunt to Shasta Ski Park.

But I haven’t answered my own “This or That” question.

In order to know if I’d miss a snowy winter, I’d have to live in a warmer climate to experience it in real-life. My California boy got married in the month of December some years ago, and I remember standing outside in my sleeveless dress, though it was a bit chilly. My husband and I walked around San Francisco in a jacket the night we flew in. Near the bay, it did get a little cold. I admit, the drive north the next day was beautiful, dry, and sunny. Before many more years pass me by, I will find out what it’s like to spend winters without snow and blustery cold temperatures. So, with another moment’s thought, I think KNOW I’d LOVE it. I could be a “winter visitor!”

Did I pick the warmer climate after all? Now I’m curious. Which This or That will you choose?

Image credits: Snowman Pixabay Jill Wellington. This or That Thursday image: PicMonkey template designed & manipulated by Mary. This or that photo image: Love Kissed Books