Winter

WINTER has again preceded its calendar self, catching many of us off guard. More than a few leaves have gone unraked, gutters uncleared, radiators unchecked, despite warm-day reprieves. It is hard to remember to put down provisions in cellars, batten down storm windows, heavily mulch against winter's frost heaves, in this world of ubiquitous shopping malls of independent climes - foodstuffs and merchandise in apparently endless abundance.

Winter has society again debating a roundup of the homeless. Had we not debated this before? Could we not designate one generous mall of endless summer, one portion of a mall - an atrium perhaps in City Hall - to bring this responsibility to a close?

Winter, again, has caught us by surprise.