The colorless, soul-destroying days of winter are well upon us. The bone-chilling temperatures that bring aching joints and foul dispositions have taken up residence, unwilling to show mercy.

The trees have divested themselves of the beautiful leaves that so recently clothed them. They stand defiantly naked in the face of the chilling rain and wind. The fragrant roses so recently planted around the back porch are now a distant memory.

The sun refuses to show his face most days. He reluctantly shares his meagre warmth with no cheer at all.
Occasionally I see a bright flash of cheery color. The haughty cardinals, in their vivid red plumage, visit the bird feeder out back. They share the bounty with their cousins, whose names I don’t know. A smile creeps back onto my lips. For a moment or two my disposition is decidedly more cheerful.

December is nearly half finished. A consultation with the Old Farmer’s Almanac tells me that this winter will be warmer and wetter than normal. That gives me a glimmer of hope for an early reprieve. Hope that Spring may be closer than I think.

Perhaps after I’ve slept seventy-five times I’ll once again plunge my eager fingers into the soil. Seeds will be given a hopeful burial and seedlings will grace the garden in anticipation of fragrant beauty. The apples, pears, peaches and figs will share their bounty.
Once again, we will enjoy colorful, soul-nourishing days of summer. The joints will ache less, and my disposition will improve. Hopefully.
Thanks for joining me on this journey. I appreciate your support, your likes, and comments. You make blogging worthwhile to me.
Merry Christmas to you all, and a very happy New Year!

About Ol' Big Jim
Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history.
Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute.
No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership.
Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing.
When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection.
Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations.
His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
Merry Christmas, Jim. Too bad you can’t sleep the 75 days uninterrupted.
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I’ll follow your journey anywhere. Actually the following takes me to the first sentence. That’s where your prose-poetry grabs me and pulls me in. Yours is a gift. Thank you for sharing it this Christmas.
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Merry Christmas Jim! We must listen to the Ol’ Farmers 🙂
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