Cold Weather

I know it is winter. This is the season of cold, ice, snow, sliding and skidding, and everything that goes with it. Getting around is more difficult. Cold air up the sleeves and down the neck is uncomfortable. Ice in shoes is bad, worse is ice down the socks. Yes. These are companions of cold winter weather.

Salt and snow melt is another companion. Rock salt gets stuck in the soles of shoes, is tracked in endlessly by every other contrivance, and messes up both hard floor surfaces and carpets. Crunch and salty white deposits accompany this seasonal beauty.

Driving is worrisome for the fear of skidding or sliding into another hard object. Peering through smeared and salty windshields is yet another aspect of winter driving. Cleaning windshields at low temperatures risks freezing windshield washer fluid. That makes seeing even more difficult. Dirty cars are not dangerous per se, but the dirt often wipes off on clothing and gloves. It is unsightly and unnerving. Especially for neatniks. Yes, there are some of us left in this increasingly messy world.

Within 24 hours of a snowstorm, we become expert at reading the color of snow and knowing if it is slushy, icy, hazardous for walking and/or driving. We read weather from its many cues. By season’s end, we hardly need forecasters!

All of this is unpleasant unless you love winter, ski, sled or are into photography. For those of us born in southern California, winter poses negative feelings. I moved to New England at 11 years of age, so have endured 71 years of cold winter seasons. I now know what cold and snow look like and feel like. I need no more reminders. It is real. It is cold enough to hurt. And it allows me to fall. No, no. Winter and I do not get along. The only comfort these days is knowing that my retirement and elder status means I don’t really have to go out into it.

And I don’t.

December 17, 2025

 

 

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