Blowing & Drifting

It was ferociously cold here today, somewhere on the order of 10 or 20 below in the morning and not much better in the afternoon. As I walked to the car after work, coughing involuntarily from taking in the cold air, I reflected on how much I like cold weather. The clothes are great: waffle-knit longjohns, heavy sweaters, fleece jackets zipped right up under the chin, double-lined mittens, and above all tight-fitting hats. I also love the strange phenomena of the cold, from numb fingers, gusts of condensing air, and burning cheeks to the harshness of the sun on the snow, the blue sheen of ice, and the fine, squeaking snow. And last I love all the ways of getting warm again: blasting the heater in the car, quickly drinking a cup of coffee, reading with a quilt on your lap, taking the tiniest little sip of scotch, wearing a hat to bed...