I'm usually not very sypathetic to complaints about how cold it is unless it gets below -20 or so. I grew up in South Dakota where it seems that these days were pretty common. I have many great memories of winter, but I'm aware that I hold dearly to memories of hardships that were endured. For example, I had a Sunday paper route that involved delivering the Minneapolis Star and Tribune around a small town. Each paper was an inch thick and weighed 2 or 3 pounds. All this made it impossible to pedal my bike with the big basket on the front. I had to push it...you know, with the pedals hitting the back of my legs with each step. On those cold, calm mornings, the crunch of the snow was a wonderful sound that I will always remember more than I will remember how cold my fingers and toes were. I have more fond memories of being out when it is 35 or 40 below zero, than I have negative ones. Guess I must have dressed sufficiently to make the route. On the really cold days, though, my Mother would get up and drive me. But she played the organ at church and if I was a bit late getting up, I was on my own. This happened more often than it should have!
If you live where it gets cold, step outside, take a sniff of the cold fresh air, unfreeze you nose and take a moment to appreciate the metal of those who settled the northern states.
Here's a poem I received from my friends in South Dakota today.
George
WINTER Poem
It's winter in South Dakota
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below .
Oh, how I love South Dakota
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut
.Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave South Dakota
Cuz I'm frozen to the ground!
THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM GROTON AND THEY SAY, "HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS .
"Smile whenever you can,
George
