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Too Cold

         Boy, has it been cold this week! Minus three last night. Brr. Usually, winter is not bad for me. I go from the house to the car, from the car to a building, no big deal. A walk to the mail box or feeding the birds or shoveling snow (when you work up your own heat) is not bad either.

         For the previous three years, the coldest I got was waiting at a bus stop. Now the bus route has changed, so I changed my routine. It involves walking 6 blocks to a different bus stop, waiting for a bus that might be late, then another walk to my building. Reverse in the afternoon, with the length of waiting on the bus depending on the time I actually get to leave the office. So I've learned to dress like an Eskimo and not care how I look. Two scarves around my neck, a sleeveless fleece vest over my short coat, two pairs of gloves. I haven't bundled up like this in decades. Maybe getting older makes us cold faster.

         The second scarf is a pashmina which I drape over the back of may head and pull up over my chin. The really cold air, like 10 degrees and below makes my sinuses hurt, but I have to be able to see. The eye doctor told me I have to use UV sunglasses, so my breath fogs up the glasses. I'm sure I look ridiculous. My legs get cold despite the knee socks and long pants, my face hurts, and my hands and forearms still get cold.

         The ground is frozen; there are still piles of snow frozen with street slime piled up 4 days ago. A new winter storm is expected tomorrow through Sunday morning. It will melt next week, if predictions hold true. But I'm staying in this weekend. I have hot tea and a stack of books. Next winter I will have a new coat and pants that aren't worn from laundering and new socks. Right now, I'm planning spring shopping.