“We don’t really have much of a winter before January.” Newcomers from other provinces and countries say we told them this when they moved here. As they confront us this week, we look a little sheepish and our lips are pursed ever so slightly.
What they don’t know is we Islanders can be in some amount of denial about the weather ourselves, like it’s actually part of our identity. We brag about the sunny days and downplay the squalls. We even deflect the discussion to storms occurring in other places. “Yes, but did you see the weather they are having in Vancouver?”
We only really discuss it truthfully among ourselves. In fact, we don’t even have to discuss it. It’s communal knowledge that can be conveyed with a glance. It’s almost part of our DNA.
Those new to PEI can find our weather confusing and will not fully understand the ocean effect. Islanders have a more innate sense of predicting weather and will adjust our behaviour as easily as the local wildlife, squirreling away food and water and hunkering down, hoping the power doesn’t go out with yet another gust of wind. Rural folks with farms are operating in full gear protecting their herds and flocks. The survivalist instinct kicks in, no explanation necessary.
However, we will say to those from away, “Yes, it’s bad, but this is an unusual year, maybe the worst since the 1970s.” It’s our way of putting them off, knowing we don’t have to come up with another excuse until next winter. And with any luck, there will be a bad winter in Texas.
Heck, maybe we aren’t that different from other Canadians or even those from the New England States and northern Midwest. And who knows, it could still be raining on Christmas Day.
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