"Whether the weather be cold. Or whether the weather be hot. Whatever the weather, we'll weather the weather, whether we like it or not." I learned this little poetic verse many years ago from a neighbor, who had been an experienced farmer. The rhythm and rhyme we hear in this catchy, cliche and encouraging platitude, reminds us that the winter weather we looked forward to in August, did not usher in the sunny skies, and brisk, fresh air, we were hoping for. And, like the poem below tells us, which I hope you enjoy, it is January, in Tennessee. And we will weather it as well.

 It Was Just January in Tennessee
~Paulette Jackson

The clouds were grey
 but behind them we could tell the sun was bright –
even though at this time of year
 by 4:30 dark darkness fell
and it was time to come in for the night…

It was raining for days
in a fog and a haze
We saw flood lines raise
I sat with my cat at the window and gazed
Our eyes were glazed
For you see…
It was just January in Tennessee

The temperature dropped 40 degrees in one day
with a northern blast coming our way
And feathery flakes like cotton balls
floated from the sky
changing blue Heaven into a white hall
And kids behind their school walls
couldn’t wait to get out of their stalls
For you see…
It was just January in Tennessee

 Eight inches of snow I found
in my backyard on the ground
I did not think I wanted to stay
But I took a dare
and sat in my frozen Adirondack chair
And it came to me
how fun it would be
to have another to join me there
For you see…
It was just January in Tennessee

So stacking two big balls of snow
I decided to create a jolly “sista-soul”
She had big eyes, a cookie for a nose
and her smiling lips were cherry red –
a string of beads turned up like a bow
She donned a red scarf and sparkling hat-band
Pretty as a picture, my home-girl, snow-friend
But before we knew it, our fun had to end
She had to leave
Because you see…
It was just January in Tennessee

The sun was shining brightly, the temperatures broke records
83 degrees
Due to a strong southern breeze
Tulips bloomed, thinking it was May or June
Everyone came out to play
Sporting their summer shorts and tees
But we all knew it would be
A very short spree
For you see….
It was just January in Tennessee

For the Support of Your Life
For the Many Sides of Life
Paulette Jackson LPC-MHSP