Cold Fingers

I’m sitting here listening to Hawaiian tunesmith Israel Kamakawiwo’ole playing the ukulele and singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while my fingers feel like they are about to fall off from frostbite. They shouldn’t even be cold; the thermostat is set for 21.5° C which is higher than I normally set it. I could have a blood circulation problem I suppose, but I suspect it is more mental than anything else.

I made a vow to myself to embrace the winter this year and try to enjoy being outside. I want to walk and play in the cold; I am a Canadian after all. Here it is the middle of November and I am already cranking the heat up and huddling under a blanket looking for TV shows that are featuring “warm” themes. I’m pathetic!

I used to spend hours walking and delivering mail in -40° C weather. I can’t say that I particularly liked it, but it was my job and I did it. I remember one day I was sitting in the back seat of the cab going out to my route when the radio announcer made a point of telling us that unprotected human flesh would freeze in 30 seconds. The cab pulled up to the curb and I said “Could you pick me up in three and a half hours Dave?” I would have cried, except the tears would have frozen to my face.

I have a spot on my right cheek that must have frozen once and every time it gets to -20°
C or lower, it aches. Twenty below isn’t bad if the sun is out and there is no wind. It isn’t as good as 28° C and walking along an azure sea being mesmerized by the rhythmic motion of the ocean. That’s the way to embrace winter Ken! Idiot!

Okay, I will keep warm tonight and starting tomorrow I will embrace the winter. One more day won’t hurt; a day is such an inconsequential period of time. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. It could be the last day of my life if I freeze to death I suppose. I hope I die while it is warm. If I die when it is cold, and I am given a choice to go to heaven or hell I’m afraid I just might opt for the warmth of hell. I wonder if they give us borderline people a choice or do they just flip a coin? I will find out eventually.

If you get to feeling cold, make a point of listening to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0xoMhCT-7A  sing. It is Hawaii in song. Now, if you have had a particularly cold day or even just a miserable day of any kind, you can watch Hawaii in real time from web cams strategically placed throughout the islands. You can even control the cameras. http://www.seehawaiilive.com/oahu/waikiki-resorts

Have fun and stay warm!