No, I never walked ten miles to school in waist-deep snow. I did, however, spend many blue mornings during my Michigan youth waiting for the school bus. Only, we didn't know that one day was any colder than the next. We played "Duck, Duck, Goose", "Keep Away", and made snow angels. Many mornings the mercury dipped to -10F and occasionally the wind chills were -30F.
I do remember that when I was about 10 years old they did close school because the wind chill was below -50F. That was back when kids actually waited for the school bus outside - by themselves. I suppose the administrators thought that was even too cold for us to wait for the bus. Maybe the Superintendent's car wouldn't start. I just remember we had the day off from school Guess what we did? We bundled up and went outside to play. (Never waste a day off from school by staying indoors!) We found a drift bank and tunneled in to make a shelter. We probably played Jim Bridger or John Colter. (That was during my Mountain Man phase.) We occasionally left the shelter as part of the imagination to "check traps or shoot elk". It was pretty cold, so we quickly returned to our cave, but we spent a couple hours outdoors that day.
The point is, that while it is cold, you can dress appropriately and still have a wonderful time outdoors. Proper dress in 2009 is much more comfortable than it was when I was 10. (Remember being as wide as you were tall in your snow suit?) Yet, we have more excuses than ever not to venture out.
I was thinking about that this morning and realized TV weather forecasters bear some of the blame. Now, I love watching TV weather, and appreciate and respect the different broadcast personalities (and I watch all of them). I do pick on them, however, because I think they should be more honest about the accuracy of their 3 - 5 day predictions.
Anyways, when a snow flake falls, or the temperature dips, all you hear is doom and gloom. They remind us to stay inside for our own safety. Today it suddenly hit me. They work for a TV station. The TV station makes money when people watch it. Telling people to stay home because of the weather is part of the marketing plan. It doesn't matter if it is too cold or too hot; too wet or too dry. Part of their job has morphed into keeping people in front of the tube (or should I say screen). So, buck the trend this weekend. Dress for the occasion and take a walk. When the temperature gets this cold, there is a clarity to the air that you won't find at any other time. The world feels clean. And you will miss it if you stay indoors.
