Relatively Minor

Laughter does not have to come from a major source. It could indeed be ... relatively minor.

There’s a taproom in Winterset called The Drift. And no, it wasn’t named after the recent arctic weather conditions we’ve experienced. That’s just a coincidence.

It’s a popular spot for craft beer, wine, or cocktail lovers, attracting many visitors from Hump Day to Sunday. The taproom is situated on the west side of the historic downtown square.

With the heavy snowfall, it’s understandable if you’re already tired of winter. However, I can’t see your hand raised to confirm your exhaustion through the enormous white drifts that seem to have taken over the community. You may need to raise your hand higher than usual.

Wintersetonians have different ways of coping with winter. It’s interesting to see how our daily activities mimic those of other creatures and critters. For instance, snowbirds pack their motorhomes with everything but the kitchen sink before the first snowflake flies, and head to warmer locations where snow is less likely to fall, soaking up the sun and sipping little umbrella drinks with friends in their seasonal trailer park spots. Their Iowa neighbors, meanwhile, shovel, recover, and repeat.

The local people have a walking style that resembles that of penguins, the flightless tuxedo-clad birds – due to the four or five layers of clothing needed to cope with the extreme cold of winter. Recently, I have started eating like a polar bear, in anticipation of the unpredictable weekly weather which might prevent me from going to the grocery store. This time of the year is perfect for storing up fat reserves.

I have just decided to grin and bear it – with an emphasis on the latter. Rapidly gaining weight and then lying still for several months is not generally considered a recipe for fitness. However, right now, hibernating until spring sounds like a really good idea.

www.wintersetmadisonian.com

Member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative