Winter wife vs. Summer wife

Yes, I admit it...I can easily sum up my life in two separate personas--on any given day I am either the winter wife or the summer wife.  There is no gray area here, no middle ground.  I am one or the other.  I do not ride the fence on any of these points, I'm on one side or the other.  You may be wondering how a woman can be so easily defined, must be heaven for her husband, you are thinking. Though I may waffle between being winter wife or summer wife...I can say with conviction that I'm slowly learning to wear both seasons with grace, mercy, and patience.

Winter wife.

Winter in Lima gets down to about 60 degrees. I hear what you are saying, "Oh poor you, how terrible that you have to suffer so." and I agree, 60 degrees doesn't sound so awful.  However, with an average of 88% humidity, overcast skies 95% of the time, and no insulation in the cement walls of my house...winter wife finds the occasional moment to feel sorry for herself.  Winter wife also admits to wearing hoodies, socks, and fleece pants to bed.  At the same time.  For weeks on end.  I might also add that winter wife does not shave her legs.  It doesn't matter how hot that shower is, the minute the water stream stops--the temp inside the shower drops 25 degrees.  Winter wife begs for a small gas heater.  Winter husband wants to snuggle. Winter wife dreams of tropical islands and sipping brightly colored drinks with umbrellas in them.  Winter wife actually drinks copious amounts of coffee, tea, cocoa, and anything else she can hold in her hands to warm them.  Winter wife gets into bed and pulls the covers over her head to warm her nose.  She adds so many wool blankets to the bed that she finds it hard to turn over, get up, or heaven forbid, rush out to check on the children should a small animal be attacking them in the night.  Winter wife does not want to get up in the night, but suffers through the dark mornings to go for a run a couple of days a week...in shorts.

Now let me present Summer wife.

Summer wife wakes up and rejoices over the fact that the sun will be rising any moment.  She goes for a run anticipating the misty cloud cover because she is sure the sun will be out later.  Summer wife shaves her legs and starts wearing flip flops at the first hint of sunshine...even if her toes are actually turning blue from the cold. Summer wife knows at exactly what time the sunshine (if there is any) will come streaming through the windows in any room (Kitchen around 4pm, Sophia's room around 1pm, back patio between 11-1pm). Summer wife is more apt to agree on afternoon weekend outings to the beach, as opposed to staying home and staying warm.  Summer wife breaks out the sunglasses and wears them to take out the garbage...just because she can.  Summer wife smiles and dreams of tropical islands and sipping brightly colored drinks with umbrellas in them.  Then she makes a large jar of sun tea.  It's close enough.  Summer wife also wears shorts and a tank top while putting up her Christmas tree....did I mention I live in the Southern Hemisphere, while summer husband pines away for a cold day on the slopes. 

I have some summer kids and some winter kids...they appreciate one or the other, but seldom both.  Like their mom.  I know it's all a matter of perspective, and what I'm trying to learn through this self-seasonal evaluation is that regardless of the season, I need to live each day to the fullest whether I'm wearing a tank top or a parka.  Because one will end and one will begin...all year long.