Baby It's Cold Outside

My phone advised that is was 5 degrees outside. I think it was actually sneering, mocking me, when it provided this report.

It was shortly after 7 AM. My first thought was that the bedroom was a perfectly suitable place to hibernate until spring. Unfortunately, my very next contemplation was of the number of layers of clothes that would be required should I venture out into the frozen tundra. Voluntarily.

My long underwear looked at me with disdain, disgust, dismay. Though this was its very purpose, it was clearly possessed of greater sanity than the person reaching for it.

My fleece actually put up a struggle. First telling me there was no f...ing way it was doing this and then literally pushing my hand into the wall when I tried to grab it. This was not going to be easy.

It took a good 15 minutes before everything was under control. Six layers on top, but two on the bottom and socks guaranteed to keep toes warm in a bucket of ice.

I have been skiing for nearly half a century. Today but a Sunday like so many others. Except that the word brutal was used in virtually every other sentence. Why, you ask, would I subject myself to nature's taunts today. The answer is simple. I wanted to be with my son. And he wanted to be on the slopes.

Sometimes we do foolish things. This was not one of them. I had a wonderful morning. As I have with him here so often.

And it really was not so bad out there after all. I avoided frostbite. I didn't fall down. And I remembered where I parked the car when we had finished up and were heading home.

Success comes in many shapes and sizes. My clothing was actually still talking to me when I got back inside. As though it was all really no big deal.

I was informed by my phone it was 8 degrees. I thought I now saw a hint of a smile from it.

Yes, this was a nice day indeed. One that warmed the heart.