Stupid Cold

I've lived here for 25 years and I still don't know how to do winter

I've got everything I need
I mean, come on, I've lived here for 25 years

I have the wool socks and the slippers and the fingerless gloves, the scarves and the sweaters and the down comforters
I have the space heaters and the plastic to cover the windows (what a pain in the ass)
I have friends with woodburning stoves (who clearly, I need to visit more often) and I have a nice teapot
I start freaking out about how cold it's going to get as soon as I notice the sun isn't sticking around as long each day
It's not like I don't know it's coming

Yet somehow, those first few really cold days still catch me by surprise and I am
A kitten that fell off the sofa
A child suddenly stripped of her blankets before dawn

And I forget about the socks and the slippers and the gloves, the scarves, hats, comforters, heaters and stoves.

I curl in on myself, huddled over icecube toes, huffing warm breath on my hands, hoping somehow to bring heat without having to pile on all those damn layers.

I hate feeling like a stuffed penguin.