Remember Me Winter

In the depth of summer there lay within me an invincible winter, reversing a philosopher's words.

I was wandering around this sleepy town called El Chaltén, yet another strange place to be known, seemingly vague and uninteresting. Nothing special to be found yet, and where all people were I didn't take any interest. Slowly I walked the town's empty and cold pavement as I familiarized myself with all these casitas like dots from a distance. The search for that place to call home for a few days, looking for those few to welcome yet another stranger in this lonely town.

I woke up the next day with a strange feeling, a loss of warmth in this unfamiliar place. I must have been dreaming all my life. Jumping from one place to another, one season to another, one moment to another. Time passed like the winter wind. My eyes wandered, the house was a field of destroyed crops after a hurricane, that I felt the need to liberate myself. It seemed like I was another stranger here, alone in the midst of the crowd. I didn't have a strong grasp of the language yet, or perhaps I just didn't want to belong. No time for such emotion. There is so much space in this world to be appreciated, nature waiting to be discovered. It turned out, home is outside, where I feel happier. While the rest are flocking and making noises to the known places of the world, here I was again, appreciating a real heavenliness hidden from all. This was my own spiritual journey.

I caught a glimpse of what was like outside through my lethargic eyes and to my surprise, there were white pigeons falling endlessly from the sky, a sudden invasion of this porch calling to be mine. A field of white and nothing more, transforming this gray town to a silent field of pearly flakes, a sudden gift from the heavens above. It was amazing how a scene could change like my mood, a time for people to embrace the comfort and warmth of home. But for me, it was time to go outside, to embrace the change and allure of winter.

Be like snow, beautiful and cold.

From gray to white, rare and pale limitless sky. The sameness and nothingness in everything, the blinding white and the beauty of mystery. It was freedom. Winter in nature, what could be more beautiful, more worthy of my worship. But I was quite unprepared for the harsh weather here in the very south of the earth. I touched my face with my cold, bare hands. I felt the skin of my feet getting crumpled as I walked, quite welcoming to frostbite. The pull of the frozen clouds beneath my feet was quite amusing too, I see the whole world as a child again. My solitary walk along the endless path of snow made me remember my last winter, somewhere in different time and place, that marked the end of something beautiful. Remember me winter?

Here I was again, a quick hello to the past, but the present was just as cold. This time it was sweeter. Alone, silent but complete.

The people are the cold and ugly part of this place. Winter is friendlier when understood, its beauty is elusive. Like a fire that burns, cold is the same. A promise of winter is like romancing life in another way. Those who could not appreciate it do not deserve spring.

I was looking for the hidden waterfall but it didn't appear the first time. I didn't know where I was going, the path was tricky for a girl of summer. I faced my fear. Winter requires some perseverance and courage, it is indeed for the strong. But I was happy enough to be here, the moment was precious. The crushing of diamonds beneath my cold feet as I braved the journey to the unknown. Another winter conquest, but more magical this time.

A taste of winter, surreal and seductive. Those who are unafraid would find the waterfall like a treasure chest. I find most people only talk about spring and summer, but such ordinary beauty to me. And this silent murmur about winter. Love it or hate it, winter is not for everyone. Strange, mysterious and sublime. The anticipation of something deeper within. Its silence is freedom and essential to human spirit.

In the end, I was frozen, unfeeling yet satisfied with the angelic scenery along the way, nothing like I have ever seen before. I walked back to the town after the spiritual search for the waterfall. I gazed at the majestic snow-capped mountains, a sign of heaven on earth. A snowflake is someone briefly touching my face, like a star falling from the night sky that shines a dark, lonesome tree for a moment. Remember me winter.

Feel the pleasure, it is not forever.

Remember winter when it is over.