Like so many at K-State, I grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City. Some of my favorite memories include walking and driving around with my family and friends through the Country Club Plaza, downtown and even just around the suburbs when it’s dark and cold. The smell of defrost in the car is nostalgic for me.
The Christmas lights of the Plaza and the city lights downtown are so appealing when it’s dark outside, and breathing in cold air always wakes me up.
While so many people I talk to hate when it gets dark earlier in the evening, I love it.
Turning the clock back and gaining an extra hour of sleep is a nice bonus, but I find the dark skies relaxing and the cold air thrilling. The crisp bite of pre-winter chills my bones and tells me the season is changing.
The evening is my favorite part of the day, and it is simply extended. As a student, and a student journalist, I often have work to do after dark, but a dark sky to me can be a symbol that it’s time to see my friends, have fun or relax. I even find doing homework to be less stressful when it’s dark outside.
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The excitement cold weather brings me is hard to describe. I like breathing it in. It makes me perk up and look forward to whatever else is going on that night.
Although I like to be bundled up when it’s cold outside, of course, I know that winter break is on it’s way, and that Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s are coming. Everyone knows it too, and it brings an atmosphere of anticipation and perseverance to the end of the semester.
It’s a symbol that it’s almost time to go home, and that many of my friends, old and new, will all be in the same place for a few weeks. Christmas lights will soon go up, and my favorite natural wonder, snow, will be coming down.
There are also more clothing options. When it’s cold outside, it’s time to break out boots, hoodies, beanies and coats. I think wearing just a t-shirt and shorts is so boring.
If you haven’t figured this out already, my least favorite weather is in the middle of summer, when the heat of the bright sun is pouring down on me.
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While the combination of cold and dark can often get people down, it’s the opposite for me, I feel more positive this time of year. Heat makes everything harder: getting work done, enjoying time with people and even getting from place to place. I also hate when I turn a corner and find the Sun right in my eyes.
When I’m hot, I can’t stop thinking about it. When I’m cold, I can turn up the heater, put on another layer or grab a blanket. Ironically, another reason I like the dark and cold of the end of daylight saving time, is warming up and turning on a light.
Walking around in the cold, grabbing a hot coffee and going inside to a brightly lit, warm house — these are some of my favorite activities.
So, as fellow students all around me talk about how they wish it could be light out all the time, how they can’t stand the cold weather and long for it to be warm again, I’ll hear their complaints and have a smile on my face.
Peter Loganbill is the news editor for the Collegian and a senior in mass communications. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
