We have the first snow of this winter today, a scant week before New Year's, so the world is a different place. I am trying to reconcile myself to the loss of convenience and the knee pain that goes with boots, don't ask me why; especially since my knees have already been paining me in ordinary shoes.
They ask why I live in the green mountains
I smile and don't reply; my heart's at ease.
Peach blossoms flow downstream, leaving no trace-
And there are other earths and skies than these.
-trans Vikram Seth