Rainforest in the Backyard

During the holiday season I always feel a bit nostalgic and a bit guilty.

I grew up in the frozen tundra of South Dakota where the winters buried cars under 20 foot snow drifts and we made snow angels in the front yard. I love the serenity of the snow and clean landscape of fresh fallen flakes.

But I haven't seen snow for over 20 years. The tropical rainforest is my backyard now.

Snowbound memories are much more pleasant than dealing with the cold, nasty wind of wintertime. I don't do snow anymore. I am a total cold-weather wimp.

So when December rolls around and the snowmen appear with sightings of reindeer in the sky, I just look out over the balcony and look at the horizon. That rainforest is breathing its ancient evolution in the warm, humid temperatures that I've come to enjoy each day.

Let Santa Claus own the polar pole and ride those windy blasts into the prairie states, I'm done with that.

Whatever the weather is like where you live, enjoy each snowflake or raindrop or ray of sunlight.