Thoughts from a Snowbird . . .

By Stephen Gessner
March 10, 2020

Snowbirds

Bah Humbug, wimpy snowbirds, who head South because they cannot deal with a little dipping in the thermometer, a few lovely flakes, a NASCAR driving experience on black icy roads, and the cardio healthy workout of mastering the snow shovel.
They even have their own shmaltzy little anthem, “Snowbird” sung by Anne Murray.

Spread your tiny wings and fly away
And take the snow back with you
Where it came from on that day

https://youtu.be/pq9bHd58-LA?list=SRanne%20murray%20snowbird&t=56

They are so smug with their perfectly timed escapes to the warm South. My wife, Kathleen and I thought of the stereotypes about Florida: conservative politically and religiously, limited cultural activities, and could not imagine how our friends could live there, albeit for only a few months in the winter.

We weathered through many Northern winters, with no complaints. Part of that magnanimity was due to our having previously lived in Chicago, which teaches one to appreciate the term “wind chill, or as the weathermen (back then they were always men, now they seem to be always women) loved to say, “feels like ___” and then insert some number at least 20 degrees lower than the actual temperature.

We watch our friends annually pack up and drive South at the first sniff of cool air. It seemed they would leave earlier each year, hoping to time it so they would leave before the rare hurricane would hit Long Island and after the more likely one had already hit Florida. We did our winter preparedness trials, getting firewood, one last caulking episode with loosely secured windows and doors, and of course mousetraps.

When the snow did come, there were always delightful hikes, skating on frozen creeks and ponds, and cross-country skiing with rewards back home of hot chocolate or even better, hot toddies, a mysterious drink which always brought out great recipe debates (“cloves, of course… no you have to be kidding”).

Winter always brought more time in front of the TV, which often required purchasing additional channels and services. I fondly recall falling asleep watching live Australian Rules Football at 2 in the morning—16-hour time difference.

But then came the blizzard of January 2016–the record setter. The frozen pipes downed electric wires, impassable roads, all which lasted for days, which seemed like weeks.
Kathleen and I looked at each other, needing no words, we both knew what that look meant. As soon as we got power back on and internet service, we had booked a rental in Fernandina Beach, Florida for the rest of the winter. The fastest booking in rental history, no photos, videos, descriptions, to entice us. Just a credit card.

We felt a little guilty about abandoning our Northern home and the few friends who still weathered out the winters, but that guilt lasted about 10 minutes. We joined the snowbird flock, something we were certain we would never do; that group of wimps that we had so decried in the past. More importantly, we discovered the delights of Fernandina Beach—the Chamber Music Festival, the two community theaters, the museum, the beach, the nature trails, and our wonderful surprise in meeting so many lovely people. Our stupid stereotypes went out the window and we embraced our new home.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Stephen Gessner is a retired psychologist who with his wife and dog split time between Shelter Island, NY and Fernandina Beach, FL  He has had a long and distinguished career in K-12 and higher education, working as an administrator, teacher, clinician, and researcher. He has specialized in gifted and talented and international education. He was the Senior Director of Programs for the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at The Johns Hopkins University, the leading organization in the field of programming for gifted students. He was also the Director of the
University of Chicago Laboratory School and the Head of the Sandy Spring Friends School in suburban Maryland.

Dr. Gessner has been a teacher, administrator, and researcher at the University of Chicago, Swarthmore College, Haverford College, Bennington College, and the George School. He was also the founding Senior Program Officer of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, a funder of educational innovation. He has worked as a clinical psychologist in clinics, hospitals, schools, and private practice.

Dr. Gessner is a graduate of Swarthmore College, majoring in English literature. He holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Chicago