Commentary: For the love of winter

Two weekends ago I was chatting with Bigfork High School varsity boys basketball coach Paul LaMott at the final day of the Bigfork Little Hoopsters program and he said to me, "If people didn't already know that winter is here and that it is officially basketball season, they will when they see this week's paper."

LaMott couldn't have been more correct. The sports section of the Eagle is overflowing with basketball the past couple of weeks. I have seen teams in grades kindergarten through 12 on the court over the last few weeks. At times, it can be a little tedious, but really each age group has its own unique charm and personality.

Growing up I always liked playing basketball, and while I still enjoy shooting hoops now and then, I have to say that it doesn't beat out my favorite sport to watch - football. However, as LaMott suggested, it is basketball season and that's all we've got right now. But I'm OK with that because basketball season in Bigfork is sort of a special entity. Since the games are really one of the only things going on in town, everyone comes together to watch them. It is good to see everyone at the home games because it breaks up the solitary feeling of the winter.

I think after Thursday's Blue and White Scrimmage we can safely say that basketball season is here, but the signaling of the start of winter came Saturday as the first of our local ski resorts opened its slopes.

I wasn't able to go up to Big Mountain on Saturday because of a previous engagement, but the excitement was felt in my house none the less. My roommate and I planned to go on Sunday, but were warned that frostbite was likely for anyone who ventured up.

I guess that freezing cold weather is just one more sign that we are definitely in the middle of winter. I don't mind though. I live for summer and winter. As I have said in this column before, I feel the other seasons are just place-holders.

Winter doesn't have to be a bad thing, even for those who aren't big fans of basketball or skiing and snowboarding. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy both indoors and out

Winter can be a time of seclusion that depresses people, but the right approach can go a long way to helping everyone enjoy the season as much as Coach LaMott and I do.

So here's to Old Man Winter, the snow gods, Santa Claus and Bigfork basketball. I am ready to embrace the winter and all it has to offer, including warmth from my fireplace, hot drinks, snowy walks and the good company of friends and family.