Cooperative Living February 2018 - 42

Rural Living | by Margo Oxendine, Contributing Columnist
Embraceable
February!
The time to hunker down,
cozy up and make the best of things!
W
hen you think about it, there's a
lot to like about February. It's
the month of love and holidays
and snow. It's the time when staying inside
where it's warm is a great excuse to get
some reading done.
It's my birthday month, so there's that:
A fine meal, some presents, well wishes.
We all love our birthday month. Even if
it's February.
And, fellows, please don't forget that
Valentine's Day is on the horizon. I think
women anticipate Valentine's Day much
more than men do. Some men actually
manage to forget it altogether. They'll
regret that around 11 p.m. on Feb. 14.
That's when they find out what " cold "
really means!
I remember one Valentine's Day when I
was wildly in love with a wonderful guy
who felt the same. Is there anything better?
I worked in an office at the time.
Throughout the day, almost every woman
- married and single - got a visit from a
florist, bearing a huge bouquet. I kept
waiting for mine. And waiting. Surely,
every one of my co-workers wondered,
" If they're so in love, where's her bouquet? "
It never arrived. I went home dejected
and empty-handed. Naturally, when I
arrived, there was an extravagant floral
display waiting for me. Yet somehow, it
just wasn't the same.
This February, we can also look forward
to the Olympics. Although, I must say, I'm
concerned about the South Korean locale.
Heaven only knows what might happen,
with a megalomaniac madman just a few
kilometers to the north. It seems a perfect
opportunity to make a " statement " ;
I pray I'm wrong.
I will certainly watch the Olympics.
And I know for sure I will miss my mother
terribly. Mom and I used to make an event
40 | Cooperative Living | February 2018
out of the Winter Olympics. We both used
to ice skate, so of course, women's figure
skating was our favorite event. Mom and I
knew our triple salchows from our death
spirals (not that either of us had ever
attempted such things). But really, anytime
any athlete of any gender was gliding
around out on the ice, our eyes were
glued to the screen.
Don't forget: The February holidays
provide a great opportunity for a getaway.
Yes: Four days off in a row. Why not pile
into the car and go somewhere fun and/or
romantic? If the days fall just right, you
can combine Valentine's Day with
Presidents Day, and bingo: Your gift-giving
options are handled!
I will not be departing on any romantic
holiday trip this year - or any foreseeable
year in the future, and that's fine with me.
I have my own special things to do that I
enjoy in February. Believe it or not, one of
those is shoveling snow! And, before
hauling out the shovel, there's the very best
part: Sitting in my chair under a lap robe,
watching the snow fall. And keep falling!
I am very lucky to have a job where I
must only make it from my bedroom, to
the kitchen for Cuban coffee, and then
into my home office to be " at work. "
Ahhh. It's one aspect of life I've always
dreamed of: No office full of co-workers,
with nasty coffee in a break room; no boss
And, fellows,
please don't
forget that
Valentine's Day
is on the
horizon.
peering over my shoulder; no forced
camaraderie at an office party, complete
with a tasteless cake from a discount store.
I've paid my dues with all of that!
I never have to worry about what I'm
going to wear to work. Chances are, in
February, it's fleece-wear, fuzzy socks
and my doggie slippers. No more heels
and stockings and dresses that have to
be dry-cleaned!
But wait. Why am I even working? Am
I not supposed to be, technically, retired?
Yes! But here's the thing when you're a
writer by profession: You can never stop
writing. Every morning, I am compelled to
come in here and try to put something on
a page. I like to joke: I'll be here until they
pry my cold, dead hands from the
keyboard. Gad. That could be truer than
I'd like to know!
So, please embrace February, with all its
snow and freezing temps and happy
holidays. And, if you happen to have your
very own Valentine, then by all means,
embrace him or her, too.
February: The month to hunker down,
cozy up, and make the best of things! 
Why not hunker down with " A Party of One, "
a compilation of Margo's columns? Order
by calling 540-468-2147, Mon-Thurs, 9-5,
or email recorder@htcnet.org.
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Cooperative Living February 2018

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