Monday, December 14, 2009

the cold

it was - 38 in stony plain last night... that would be the small town we left to come to durham. and that is a core reason why i never want to live there again. (hallelujah for permanent residency!) my s-i-l just tried to counter that with several happy christmas memories ... and she's right, there are many lovely memories... family joy mixed with chaos christmas day with the mulders, more little girls than you could shake a stick at, a roaring fire in the fireplace and my m-i-l's stunning christmas feast. we do have a lot of beautiful memories.

but.

have you ever had to let your car run for FOURTY-FIVE MINUTES just to get it to blow warm out of the vents?

have you ever had your eyelashes and nostrils freeze solid in the space of time it takes you to get from the parking lot to the grocery store?

have you ever had to move a space heater from room to room with you because the blasting cold air seeps through every space in your home?

have you ever lived on a day so cold they cancelled school because the buses couldn't start?

those memories trump the festive ones, in so far as determining where i want to live my life. where i would celebrate my holidays is a different question entirely.... as long as i get to come home when they are done! :)

(i have actually looked like the person in this photograph. much to my sorrow!)

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Your mother asked me today if I had any idea what -20 felt like. I told her I don't even have the ability to know how to comprehend it. Some crazy cold.

Cynthia said...

It got to -46 in Edmonton yesterday WITHOUT THE WIND CHILL! Seriously, why do I live here? I spent maybe 2 minutes outside filling up my bird feeders, and it took 15 minutes for my glasses to defrost.... Ugh! At least the birds were happy :o)

stephanie said...

Yes, I am continually questioning this myself...

silvia bourn said...

it was -24 in chicago when i went up there a couple yrs ago. I told my parents i have never felt SO COLD before. It was so cold there that i never want to go back unless it is summer time! My birdfeeders are frozen because it is so cold. and there is food in them and i dont want to touch them because its so cold! the birds are happy and they still eat. :)


sporty