COLD!

The forecast is for record cold. The weather lady telling me this seems pleased and excited by the prospect of besting some decade-old meteorological statistic. I am annoyed by this.  Cold can change your life, or at least your day. For one thing, it can take a good 10 minutes just to get into your outdoor clothes on days when the mercury dips below zero. In my opinion, winter clothes aren’t much fun, especially now that we can’t wear fur anymore. Say what you will about the poor minks, there was nothing warmer. When I was in college, my mother gave me her beaver coat. For 8 years it served as coat, blanket, pillow, catch-all, dog carrier, (It had marvelous pockets. I could put my dog in the inside pocket and take him anywhere.) slipcover and friend. When it finally got too ratty to wear, I cut it up into pillows and got a couple of more years out of it. I don’t wear fur anymore. I’m enlightened. And not as warm.  These days there’s down and fleece and Thinsulate, and its all about layers. I tend to overdo this concept, layering clothing on my body until I am rendered immobile, able to bend neither elbows nor knees. Last winter we had A LOT  of snow, so I invested in some boots which are the equivalent of SUVs for your feet. They each weigh about 15 lbs. and make me feel sort of like a human Jeep Cherokee. I find myself bursting through snow drifts just because I can. I have also discovered the joys of fleece, from hats to socks. What a wonderous material this is, particularly if you’re allergic to wool, as I am. They make it from old plastic water bottles and it’s deliciously warm. Three or four layers of fleece and I’m good to go…once I get going. Stay warm, dear readers.