Winter Wonderland
The joys of the winter season are upon us. Here in New York, children are dreaming of snowball fights, building snowmen, and getting out of school for the holidays. While some adults are anticipating snow alongside them, others are burrowing into cozy blankets with a warm drink. Maybe you’re looking forward to rich seasonal meals and sweets, or maybe you’re eager to see your town decorated in festive lights. Whatever your reason for enjoying the season, we hope you make the most of it.
Winter comes with its own unique set of worries and problems, however. Below are some gentle reminders from the Maryknoll Sisters’ diaries to take precautions so that you and yours can enjoy the season as much as possible.
“We decided at breakfast that the infirmarian (who is still sick) needed a corps of assistants and that it would be a good plan to appoint Josephine first “sub” and Mary Louise second. The “infirmarian squad” might then recover in self-defence [sic].”
Who takes care of the nurse when the nurse gets sick? Having a plan in place before someone gets sick can help slow the spread of disease and improve people’s recovery time. If you can, stock up on common cold medicines, hand sanitizer, masks, etc. in preparation for flu and cold season. You’ll thank yourself later when you don’t have to make an extra trip to the store, especially if you’re the one who’s sick!
“Roads impassable with snow. Brother Sweeney’s relatives down in Ossining almost all day, waiting for some kind of conveyance to bring them up. Amond [sic] them are two Sisters of Mercy, from New Britain, one of whom is Brother Sweeney’s sister. The pung drawn by mules finally got them here about five o’clock.”
If you’re traveling during the winter, chances are you might get stuck in a snow storm. Brother Sweeney’s relatives were able to stay safe and warm at the train station until someone could collect them, but that may not be an option for you. If you’re traveling by car, pack emergency blankets in case your car breaks down. Find safe locations to stop along your travel route if inclement weather makes driving conditions unsafe. Planning ahead of time will help ensure your safety.
“In an effort to spend Washington’s birthday in merry style all available sleds were pressed into service by our more lively young ladies. On a sled made for one, two took a chance and on their way down a steep hill, a tree unfortunately got in their way which resulted in a good fright for all plus a bruised face for one. This put a damper on the coasting; but not, however, on their spirits.”
It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt! There’s always a risk of getting injured while playing winter sports, but we don’t need to increase that risk. Please follow safety guidelines and use equipment as it was intended.
“No oil for heating left us without any heat or hot water from noon yesterday until the middle of the afternoon today. Even though we have coupons, there is simply no oil to be had. We were able to get oil enough for two days only and don’t know when the next supply will come.”
During WWII, the Maryknoll Sisters and their neighbors experienced all kinds of supply shortages. This was a normal experience in cities and towns across the nation as supplies were rerouted to support our troops in the fight against fascism. Nowadays, we’re more likely to experience power-outages from winter storms. This emergency guide from Accuweather can help keep you and your loved ones safe and warm.
Many of us also have neighbors experiencing financial difficulties. If you know someone who may need help this winter, please direct them to apply to the Federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or New York State’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Many other states also have their own energy assistance programs, so please check your state government’s website.
“Candy proved such a popular gift at Christmas time that we have been enjoying the luxury of it every evening that we have formal recreation. It seems to be a good preventative remedy from the flu epidemic.”
All joking aside, candy can’t prevent people from catching the flu. However, sharing joy with others can help improve your health and the health of everyone around you. In an article published by Harvard Medicine, The Contagion of Happiness, research has “found a strong correlation between happiness and good health”. Our emotions are just as contagious as the flu virus, but a simple act like sharing candy with friends can boost everyone’s mental health and immune systems. It’s no wonder that Maryknoll Sisters live such long, fulfilling lives!
Moral of the story: Don’t forget to spread peace, love, and joy wherever life takes you.
Interested in learning more about Maryknoll?
You can contact the Archives at:
Maryknoll Mission Archives
PO Box 305, Maryknoll, New York 10545
Phone: 914-941-7636
Office hours: 8:30 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday
Email: archives@maryknoll.org
Website: www.maryknollmissionarchives.org
References:
Cerretani, J. (2011, Summer). The contagion of happiness. Harvard Medicine Magazine. https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/contagion-happiness
Get help with energy bills. Get help with energy bills | USAGov. (2024, November 25). https://www.usa.gov/help-with-energy-bills
Maryknoll Sisters. (n.d.). Mission diaries, 1912-1968. Maryknoll Mission Archives. https://maryknollmissionarchives.libraryhost.com/index.php?p=collections%2Ffindingaid&id=4&q=diaries&rootcontentid=234527#id234527
Mitchell, C. (2022, January 13). How to survive a power outage in the Winter. How to survive a power outage in the winter. https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/how-to-survive-a-power-outage-in-the-winter/432226
Mother Mary Joseph Rogers. Maryknoll Mission Archives. (2019, July 25). https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/mother-mary-joseph-rogers/
New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. (2024). Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/
