It's a good little book to pick up for several reasons. First of all, it is simply lovely (as are all of the books in the "Little House" series). It gives us an eye-opening glimpse into what Pioneer life was like, and most importantly, it helps us to understand just how good we have it these days in a world full of modern convenience!
Humor me while I compare....
From Our Current Winter...
It is early in the morning. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and blueberry muffins swell through the little kitchen. Christy reaches for her small weather radio and turns the silver knob to hear the robotic weather report for the day. "High today of 0 degrees," says the robot. "A wind chill advisory warning is in effect until 9pm." Christy frowns as she realizes there will be no errand running today. Going out alone in the freezing cold is one thing, but there's no way she'll risk taking the baby out unless its absolutely necessary. "Oh well," she grumbles. "Maybe I can get out of this house tomorrow." And with that, she returns to her hubby, who is reading the morning paper, and her giggling boy. They finish breakfast and start the day warm and snug (even if a little stir-crazy).
From The Long Winter:
"Her mittened hand was so numb that it hardly felt Carrie's hand. She was shaking all over and deep inside her there was a shaking that she could not stop. Only in her very middle there was a solid knot that ached, and her shaking pulled this knot tighter so that the ache grew worse."xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From Our Current Winter...
The refrigerator door is standing wide open. "We're about out of milk," Christy calls from behind the open door. "Would you mind running to the store to get another gallon? Might as well pick up a loaf of bread too." Dan says he will, bundles up and heads out to brave the chill for a quick grocery store run. Little Willie stands at the window and watches his Daddy drive away. Big tears streak down his chubby cheeks, "Daa Daa?" he asks sadly. "He'll be right back Sweetie, the store is just five minutes away."
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From The Long Winter:
"Laura tried to think of the good brown smell and taste of the beef for dinner tomorrow, but she could not forget that now the houses and the town would be all alone till spring. There was half a bushel of wheat that they could grind to make flour, and there were the few potatoes, but nothing more to eat until the train came. The wheat and the potatoes were not enough."
"Laura tried to think of the good brown smell and taste of the beef for dinner tomorrow, but she could not forget that now the houses and the town would be all alone till spring. There was half a bushel of wheat that they could grind to make flour, and there were the few potatoes, but nothing more to eat until the train came. The wheat and the potatoes were not enough."
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From Our Current Winter...
When she gets home from work one day, Dan greets Christy at the door, hands her a cheerful red-cheeked baby and says, "There's something wrong with the furnace. Watch him and I'll check it out." Christy takes the squirming tot to his room where she layers on an extra sweater and some thick socks. They go to her room where she puts on her slippers and an extra sweatshirt. She takes him to the hall and they look at the thermostat. "Yikes... it's only 59 degrees in here!" They go to the family room and play with blocks so that they won't think about the crisp air. Within the hour, Dan has fixed the furnace and the heat begins, once again, to fill the little house with its cozy warmth.
From The Long Winter:
"In the morning Laura got out of bed into the cold. She dressed downstairs by the fire that Pa had kindled before he went to the stable. They ate their course brown bread. Then all day long she and Ma and Mary ground wheat and twisted hay as fast as they could. The fire must not go out; it was very cold. They ate some course brown bread. Then Laura crawled into the cold bed and shivered until she grew warm enough to sleep."
And so it goes... there is nothing I could even think to complain about that would come close to what those brave pioneers went through that terrible winter when SEVEN months worth of blizzards pounded the prairie. I am reminded how very thankful that I am for heat and insulation and warm clothes and modern medicine and plentiful food.
I finished re-reading The Long Winter just last night, and I think I'm going to make it an annual requirement for myself. It never hurts to be reminded of one's blessings, and this book certainly does that well!
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