How cold was it?

 

My wool cap is firmly positioned on my head. The super warm mittens that cover my hands are knitted from the wool of Scottish sheep. I finish zipping the collar of my below-the-knee down-filled coat and tighten a wool scarf around my neck.

I’m finally ready to embark on the frigid journey from my car to my front door. A mid-February cold spell has held much of the upper mid-west in its frozen grip for the past week. Combine this frigid air temperature with a vicious northwest wind, and you get the “perfect storm” of a cold snap.

For me, the worst part of a prolonged cold period is dealing with my 16-year-old Pug, Mr. Magoo. Magoo hates cold weather with good reason. His tired, old legs don’t work the way they once did, and when taken outside for any prolonged time, they freeze up. This is enough of a problem, but it wouldn’t be that bad if I could easily lift and carry him. Unfortunately, though Pugs are classified as “small” dogs, he stretches the definition by at least 10 pounds. Magoo is big for his breed.

Since I don’t have the arm strength to carry him, I use a sling around his midriff and help him in that way.

No matter how you cut it, pugs and frigid temperatures just don’t go together.

On the other hand, cold weather delights TV weather people, especially those new to the area. They rave over temps that aren’t even below zero. Of course, the old-timer weather people understand that minus five is not a big deal. Minus thirty catches their attention, and minus forty garners restrained awe.

I do have one complaint for weather people. Please quit emphasizing the “wind chill.” Thirty-five below zero is bad enough without hearing that the temperature “feels like” fifty below.

All these thoughts run thru my head as I open my car door, ready to face the bracing air. But I have forgotten that a break in the weather was predicted. The sun shines on the snowdrifts in my back yard, causing them to sparkle, their whiteness brilliant. The breeze that touches my face is almost warm, compared to yesterday’s frosty wind.

I can almost feel spring around the corner.

Almost.