Deep freeze

January 5th, 2024

The dog was surprised by each step on the snow as we walked in the garden tonight while awaiting the deep freeze coming in the next days. Snow crackled and snapped and crunched and squeaked with the unfamiliar sound with each hop. There was light coming from the neighbors, making the whole scene magical and very peaceful. The sound was muffled though, just as were my movements under the cumbersome jacket and many layers and heavy winter boots. There are warnings from everywhere for the next few days — the temperatures will drop to below minus 15 degrees Celsius and the advice is to stay home and stay warm. And, of course, I will heed those warnings. I live my life in a very safe and secure way and I will be well prepared for the deep freeze. But then a thought hit me — that is all just stupid. The warnings are useful and needed because those kinds of temperatures can easily affect the health, well-being, and even the life of an unprepared person who might be subjected to them. But minus 15 was really no big deal thirty or forty or so years ago, that was just par for the course for the winter months. Those kinds of temperatures never stopped me, or anyone else I knew, from living a normal life and enjoying the winter. Of course, over the last few decades, as the climate changes, deep freezes have become infrequent and rather a big deal for all of us who no longer experience them as a normal part of the winter. Well, I will still be well prepared for what is coming, but I will also enjoy the ambiance of finally getting snow and low temperatures in winter.