Frigid, Arctic, chill, subzero freeze,
Deep Freeze. Absolute zero. Brutal, Bitter, Bone-chilling, bruising
(?) cold. Twenty below may be routine for those above the arctic
circle, but for us here in the US Midwest, it is an infrequent,
unwelcome visitor. Whatever chilled label or icy metaphor you use,
subzero temperatures are awful to contemplate – or experience.
Fingers simply stop obeying the
mind when plugging a parking meter. Frostbite can creep in swift
and silent. The wind feels like a knife edge drawn across your face
– all over your face. You wonder why you never stayed down south
when you had the chance – for the umpteenth time. Every time the
car starts (and warms up) you utter a silent prayer of thanks to
whatever power you believe in. And if someone tells you you used to
go out sledding in temps not too far off of these, you shake your
head in disbelief. Was I ever that young and carefree?
Somehow
we Iowans will get through this spell. We always have before, and
come out generally okay, if a bit 'shaken up' . Then, when the
spring flowers shower us with our rewards of color and scent, we
reckon it was probably worth it.
But
damn, it just can't get over with soon enough for this shivering
blogger!
