Can’t believe January is over. Wow! It’s usually such a slog. But this year, didn’t it just fly by? I don’t ever remember having so many days in December and January where the temperature got over freezin’! Why, my niece Caitlin’s boyfriend, Adam, is still riding his bike to work! It’s crazy, but I’m not complaining. ‘Course, that can’t be said of everyone.

As a rule, I don’t hang out with complainers. Too much of an energy drain. It’s hard to avoid ‘em down to the A&P, though. See, I’m kind of a captive audience there, behind register three.

“How about this weather,” I’ll say.

“What we don’t get in January, we’ll get in March. Won’t surprise me if we got snow into April.”

What do you say to that? Or I’ll smile and go, “What a beautiful day!”

“I wish the weather would make up it’s mind. What is it, winter or mud season?”

Grumble, grumble, grumble. Well, I thought I’d heard it all, ‘til I cheerily says to Eunice Bartley, “It’s been one heck of a January, hasn’t it?”

Now, Eunice is our resident doom-and-gloomer, so I kind of suspected I’d be getting the business from her, and she didn’t disappoint. Eunice clutches my arm, looks me straight in the eye, hers brown, almost black and squinty, mine wide with surprise and I admit, a bit of fear. Eunice leans in and goes all Stephen King on me, whispering, “End of days, Ida. Mark my word. End of days.” She keeps starin’ at me like that, face all grim. Then picks up her bag of groceries (3 boxes of mac and cheese, two cans of baked beans and a new carving knife) and scurries out of the store.

Well, that kind of brought me up short. Had to shut off my register light, and take a little break. I went to the restroom and washed my arm. I mean, I didn’t want all that apocalyptic energy leachin’ into my skin. Then, I had a York Peppermint Patty, bite size (one Weight Watchers point, I think). See, I’m what they call an “emotional eater,” and Eunice had kind of creeped me out.

I don’t mind a little grumblin’ about the weather coming from your ski-doers and ice fisherman. That’s understandable. They look forward to winter recreatin’, and I enjoy a good trek on a snowmobile as much as the next guy. Businesses up our way depend on them folk, and they have a good excuse for not lovin’ this weather, too. I get that, and feel for ‘em.

But these chronic complainers, they’re another breed. If they can’t find something to complain about, they’ll invent it. These are the same people who were grumblin’ about last winter’s snow, and all the rain we got a couple of springs back. And don’t get them going on the heat, the mud, the black files, and the cost of gas, oil, milk and politicians! All of which, surely are a sign that Armageddon’s ‘round the corner. At least, in Eunice Bailey’s eyes.

Get out and enjoy February, everyone! Valentine’s Day is ‘round the corner, and we’ll be drinking green beer and wearing “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” buttons before you know it.

That’s it for know. Catch you on the flip side!

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