California Dreamin’
Posted by mofembot Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:33:00 GMT
There was a brief golden glow in the sky this morning before I got out of bed, and I thought that maybe, maybe we’d see a little sun here in Hamburg today, but No, it is not to be. At least the top of the nearest church spire has finally emerged from the fog, and it no longer seems to be actively raining.
I am starting to think that having grown up mostly in Southern California weakened my resistance to gray-related Inertia and Low Mood. I certainly seem to have more energy and ambition when I wake up to a blue sky. I have to wonder how the Hamburgers can stand this, but even they have it easy compared to, say, the Swedes in Stockholm, whose daylight at nadir is a paltry six hours, and whose skies are apparently prone to similar levels of gray during winter.
Fine, I’m glad this isn’t Stockholm. But it isn’t Quinson or Provence, either. We’ve had a fair bit of gray and rain at home this winter, naturally enough, but less frequently. And more daylight overall, and oh, believe me, visiting Mr Mo in Hamburg is a good reminder that I should appreciate the “home comforts” more. (Such appreciation will last until the first tiny white snails appear. Even though we will be moving to our village house sans jardin in April/May and thus be spared too much interaction with the wretched little creatures, the Joys of Country Living will be nonetheless briefly diminished in proportion to their numbers.)
Anyway, days like this always bring to mind one of the best songs from the Mamas and the Papas, California Dreamin’:
All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I’ve been for a walk
On a winter’s day
I’d be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreamin’
On such a winter’s day.
If I were in L.A. today, there would be the awkward expectation that I’d be going to church with whichever sibling I’d be staying with. (My “black sheep” brother has no room, thus no haven there.) Meh. There are many shades of gray, even in L.A. (Of course, realistically, were I in California at this point, I’d actually be enjoying the day with Oldest Child in San Diego.)