It bores even me to say it, but dang.
It’s cold.
It’s always been cold.
As is common for my people at this time of year, I’ve clean forgotten
the sodden heat of a Minneapolis summer; the brisk, clear skies of fall; the
loamy, promising fragrance of a spring day.
All that is, and ever was, is the possibility of an icy
death.
It was eight below zero at the bus stop this morning. I mention this not by way of bragging or
inspiring your pity but simply so that I can then say this: It’s going to warm up over 40 degrees by
Saturday, all the way to freezing.
And don’t think that we don’t get a perverse pleasure out of
saying things like that, out of pointing out to lesser, softer beings, that we
regularly experience 100-degree swings in and out of our comfort zones.
Because we do get a perverse pleasure out of saying things
like that. This is what keeps us
warm: the knowledge that we are special,
if not in our ability to “keep on keeping on” then in our ability to meet the
bright, hectic look in our fellow Minnesotans’ eyes as we clap each other on
the back whilst declaring “Ha! Only nine
more Mondays until spring!”
It is here where we shut our eyes, ever so briefly, and
envision going home, whipping up a batch of brownie batter, and giving up, just
laying in the tub hoping our absence at work goes unnoticed until the thaw.
It’s warming up 40 degrees this weekend.
Only nine more Mondays until spring.
Pearl--Look up banana bread brownies with browned butter frosting... Yum.
ReplyDeleteI do not envy you hearty folk. Vicariously, I will shiver.
I've never lived anywhere like that. Visited, but not lived.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, here in Houston, I did decide to wear a light jacket this morning!
Nine more Mondays...
CBC (facebook page) had a video of pants standing by themselves in Minneapolis! I'd be for sending my slacks or skirt off to work alone while I snuggle down again into my blankets. You folks are very hardy!
ReplyDeleteRaising a glass of ice water to you, Pearl. Not that it was my preferred beverage but because my Diet Coke is frozen solid and the tap water is still running--for now. SE ID understands.
ReplyDeleteHow cold is it? The seven bird feeders in my yard are emptied in a day. The birds nose around for all mother nature's offerings when it is above freezing, but colder than that and they go for the sure thing.
ReplyDeleteMy skinny little youngest granddaughter told me the outdoor thermometer was minus ten when they left for the bus yesterday, at 6:15 in the a.m. It was two above when I got up at eight. Poor kid.
So far we have not slipped below 0 degrees F. That is, not without a wind chill factor which is a whole other animal. I remember winters as a youngster being below 0 F for weeks on end. We were tougher back then. Now if it slips below 70F I'm looking for a sweater.
ReplyDeleteOh Pearl... eek... it is not that cold here but.... I think we have 12-14 Mondays before it actually starts being Spring here without any ice or snow on the ground... at least it didn't happen until that late last year... We can do this right? :)
ReplyDeleteSeeing as -10 C (+14 F) is the outer limit of my comfort zone in winter, your -8 F is giving me reverent pause. We don't usually get there until a little later in the season. I like your way of thinking. Not nine weeks, but nine Mondays. It changes one's perception, and perception means a whole lot in extreme weather. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it seems like it's been cold forever. We aren't as cold here as you Minnesotans have it, but it has been in single digits here recently. Sending you warm thoughts. Could you pass the brownies, please?
ReplyDeleteWould it help if you wore a sweater in the tub?
ReplyDeleteWhile it's fun to go from -30 outside to 70 inside, that doesn't hold a candle to the 300 Club at the South Pole. They go from a 200F sauna to -100F outside. Naked.
ReplyDeleteA 40 degree upward swing might sound wonderful to all you below 0 people, but if it happens here in Australia we're all going to melt for sure. Our current temperatures are in the mid 30C range.
ReplyDeleteRats - now I can't think of anything other than brownies...maybe the banana brownies with brown butter frosting...but still - rats!
ReplyDeleteWe've just had our second dusting...not that I'm bragging. We are miserable. But counting our blessings that we aren't even more miserable.
ReplyDeleteI spent the first 29 year of my life in North and South Dakota (actually only one year in South Dakota). Then I left. I've never figured out why it took me so long.
ReplyDeleteThere was frost on the ground here, this morning... But I do miss those crisp cold days with snow squeaking under my boots.
ReplyDeleteHari om
ReplyDelete...as long as spring knows it is 9 more Mondays, you're onto a winner... YAM xx
My gosh, 40 degree weather in MN in the winter. Wow, it's time to find the bathing suit and pour a pina colada.
ReplyDeleteWe are expecting a foot or two of snow this weekend. We are not happy, but I will follow your advise and make some brownies.
Persevere.
ReplyDeleteWe had two consecutive days of frost this week. Do you hear me complaining? Do you?
ReplyDelete