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Dec. 6, 1995

The Wind

During the past few days, there has been a strong, cold wind blowing, much to everyone's displeasure. It creeps into the house in any available crack, and seems to blow the heat right out of the house. It's howl can be heard from any area inside the house, but is always the loudest and most ominous as it comes down the chimney and into the fireplace. Last night after going to bed, as I heard the wind howling, I was reminded of the poem "The Night Wind", by Eugene Field. The first verse of the poem follows:

Have you ever heard the wind go "Yoooooooo"?
'Tis a pitiful sound to hear!
It seems to chill you through and through
With a strange and speechless fear.
'Tis the voice of the night that broods outside
When folk should be asleep,
And many and many's the time I've cried
To the darkness brooding far and wide
Over the land and the deep:
"Whom do you want, O lonely night,

That you wail the long hours through?"
And the night would say in its ghostly way:
"Yoooooooo!
Yoooooooo!
Yoooooooo!"

The wind can be our friend as well as our enemy. On a hot, sticky, summer day, we can be thankful for the breezes that help to keep us cool. A gentle breeze is welcome on wash day, as it dries and fluffs the clothes hanging on the line, giving it a fresh, clean smell. As it turns the windmills, it brings water to those who depend on it. Hang gliders and people with sailboats enjoy its presence to get them where they want to go. It also causes beautiful big waves to break upon the ocean beaches as photographers stand by, waiting for just the perfect time to snap a picture.

However, it also can cause much destruction. Tornadoes and hurricanes with their gale force winds have caused many people to evacuate their homes, and have been the result of much death and destruction in the cities. Winds that are not of tornado and hurricane velocity can also cause much damage. Last night the newsman reported that strong winds caused one car to be blown into another car's path during the recent storm, resulting in the death of one person and the hospitalization of another in critical condition. Likewise, strong winds have been known to blow in windows in some homes. It even blew the front porch right off of our neighbor's house.

In a blizzard, the winds make roads impassable that have just been opened by snowplows. Sidewalks and driveways that have just been shoveled are closed up again by winds blowing the snow.

On the lighter side, it messes up your hair as you hurry from your car to the church, or wherever you are on your way to, and want to look prim and proper! It can also blow your garbage can into the street and make you turn around to pick it up and put it where it belongs, making you come late for your next appointment, which is what happened to me this morning.

So the wind can be our friend or our enemy, depending upon the circumstances. Wouldn't it be nice if we could direct it according to our wishes?