During the winter months, I find myself spending an inordinate amount of time in my bedroom. Ooh, that sounds like it could be really fun, huh? Oh, jump out of the gutter, gang. It is just the smallest room in my home. To save money I keep my thermostat relatively low. Okay, so it is set to frigid. My bedroom, however, seems to stay acceptably warm at a lower heat temperature. So, I tend to curl up in my bedroom recliner to write, watch TV, or stare at the cobwebs lurking irritatingly in every corner. It is like having a pajama party every day except partners in crime for a raging pillow fight are missing.
Seeker, my trusty furred companion, seems to agree with my decision. He snuggles on his blanket next to my feet for most of the day. I do get a little stir crazy but as adults, we know what choices we have to make to keep our bank balances from plummeting into the abyss. As a kid, I remember absolutely loving the winter months. Boots, mittens, knitted hats, and a gazillion layers of clothing were daily togs. Looking like the Michelin Man, my parents would actually have to bribe me to come inside after adventures in the snow even though my nose was frozen, and my fingers and toes were numb. All those symptoms made the promised hot chocolate taste even better. I do wonder how the rest of the world responds to wintry weather. I have to presume that those living in warm climates do not usually suffer the confines of cabin fever. Here, in the heartland of Old Man Winter, the days may seem shorter due to the sun’s absence, but the hours somehow manage to creep slower than a snail’s crawl. I have no clocks in my bedroom, so I cannot tell you how often I ask Alexa what time it is. One day I expect she will reply, “Uh, it’s fourteen minutes later than the last time you asked, you idiot.” Time just loses all perspective for me when it is cold outside. I will admit though that midwestern taste buds truly come to life this time of year. Hot coffee, warm buttered toast, and hearty chicken soup all taste better with a chill in the air. Add a pot of chili with cornbread to the menu and all is right with my world. Yes, the comfort foods of winter add loving warmth without ever touching a thermostat. And do not forget, there is only one true saving grace to shiveringly cold temperatures – the electric blanket. Patented in 1912 by inventor S.I. Russell, it was not initially well accepted as it was excessively big and bulky. I try to imagine what it was like when the only option was a hot water bottle tucked under the covers to warm the sheets. When soft flannel replaces Egyptian cotton, burrowing under a pre-heated blanket is an angelic gift. Okay, so it is not overpowering ecstasy, but it does still conjure a frenzy of rapturous delight. Hey, I have to find something good about winter. This, my friends, is as good as it gets. Obviously, my countdown to spring has already begun. I do love the seasons. I just wish the snow of winter was more like the fake little white stuff that falls on the set of a Christmas movie. And, like reversing the spin on the blades of a ceiling fan, I wish my bones had a winter button I could push to heat from the inside out. Surely there is a starving inventor somewhere that needs some inspiration and could help me here. Ah, but that is fodder for yet another rant.
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AuthorJacque Jarrett Stratman |