Sunday, January 04, 2009

Freeze Your Tail Off

On New Year's Day I went with my parents to play Bunco. That night, after it was over, I decided to walk home. It's only around the block, so I figured it wouldn't be bad. I didn't realize the temperature had dropped to 17 degrees and was continuing to drop. As I started walking, the cold started setting in and I began to see just how cold it can get there. I had lived there as a young adult, but I've lived in California for so long that I forgot. But California is more humid, so during the day in Utah, it feels warmer than the same temperature in California. But 17 degrees is pretty cold, no matter the humidity level.

Suddenly as I was walking along, I started having this panicky feeling. I started thinking about the pioneers who walked for weeks and weeks in that cold of weather. I thought about them sleeping outside in the freezing weather. I thought about them dying of the cold. I thought about the fear I would experience if I had to sleep out in it. I thought about the homeless and how they cope with the cold. I also thought about what would happen if the electricity went out. My parents do have a wood stove, but even then, it is a scary thought. It really made me grateful that I have a warm home and warm climate. It also makes me appreciate my pioneer ancestors who suffered so much so that they could live in a place where they could worship freely, and where they could build up a community. They are my forefathers, and I am the beneficiary of their sacrifices.

6 comments:

Christina said...

I can relate to the cold, we don't have a heater (or AC) that works effeciently enough to heat our house more than 1 degree. We use a couple space heaters we had to go by. Typically, in the morning, it's about 55-59 degrees and gets to a warm 63 or 64 during the day if we're lucky. We have to replace the heating/AC unit, but we have to save the $$$ first.

Looney said...

We were pondering yurt life in northwest china during the winter last night. -40? The body does adjust a lot without the heat.

My main annoyance is going into a building that is heated to the 70s during the winter.

Inklings said...

That's funny that you were thinking that the other night, because I was thinking the same thing on the way home because it was so cold. I don't know how they did it, but I did remember that most of the pioneers came in the summer.

Native Minnow said...

I think the same thing from time to time, and it's not even that cold here. I feel sorry for those who have to find a place to survive out in the elements. Same goes for summertime here when temps are around 115. I'm lucky. I try not to take it for granted, but I do.

Stick said...

We woke up Sunday morning, and I decided to walk over to church. It is only a block away. I thought, "My suitcoat will be enough." It wasn't. I was freezing by the time I got there, then found out that it was -17 below. Sorry, hard to sympathize with you. :o)

Max Coutinho said...

Hi D!

Happy New Year!!! :D

17ºF? That is cold!!!
When I started reading I was thinking in terms of Celsius, so I was like "17ºC is pretty good!" lol lol...

Yes, people in the past slept and lived out in the cold...that is why I admire them so much! The things they accomplished: brilliant!! And they worked so that we could have the comfort they didn't at the time!

Cheers