Thoughts on Cold

You wanted winter?!?! There you go.

The sub-zero temperatures have been a source of great distress to me. I mean, the foremost thoughts in my mind these days have been 'how many layers can I wear and still be able to move?' and 'is it really necessary to wear my coat INside in order to stay warm?'

We have this jacket that we affectionately call the Walking Sleeping Bag. My mom bought this coat in the early 1990's and it has been hanging around ever since. It seems to have extraordinary characteristics. For example, it fits anybody that puts it on. My brother Lars often puts this coat on if a quick run outside is necessary, and the sleeves are long enough and the front zips close with ease. All members of this household, past and present, have taken turns wearing this coat. All people who put on this coat end up looking the same size, about on par with the Michelin Man or the Marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. It also is full length and iridescent maroon. A color, I am certain, that they stopped producing in 1994.

The extreme cold weather has caused me to ruminate on the merits of this coat. I am thankful that the Walking Sleeping Bag hangs in our back closet. Last night, after I had been asleep for over an hour, my brother knocked on my door to tell me that my car was parked on the wrong side of the street. I have no doubt that his intentions were noble and even that he would have moved the car if he had been able (alas, Hans has a manual transmission and Erik, while wonderful in many ways, is unable to maneuver the stick shift car).

I was ready to tempt fate, try my chances of getting a parking ticket and just stay in bed, all warm under my down comforter and 'mink.' Although, seeing I was awake, shouldn't I just save the possible $15 parking ticket and move the dumb car? It was just torture, thinking that I would have to brave the arctic chill just to move the car. But then, hope sprang eternal! I had the Walking Sleeping Bag to save the night! To the closet I sped, I threw on said coat, tied the cute little bow fasteners on the front and slipped my feet into shearling boots. Out I went, running down the driveway, swiping clear the windshield with a purple clad arm, into the car, through a treacherous u-turn, into a parking spot on the opposite side of the street, out of the car, up the driveway, into the house, out of the coat and boots, and back into a still warm bed. Not a goosebump to be seen. Ah, the wonder of it all!

I do not love the cold weather, but without it the Walking Sleeping Bag would never have existed. How I love the Walking Sleeping Bag!