good gracious, i was NOT prepared for this weather when we moved here. this morning jackson and i ventured out to the grocery store for a few things. my sweet little volkswagon started up with a “cough cough” because of the cold and then i looked at the temperature gauge in my car… it read 24 degrees. 24 DEGREES!!! 2-4!!! it’s so cold that when we get ready to go outside (even if it is just to the car), we bundle up to the point of sweating in our multi-layers of clothing. it’s so cold that jackson turns his little face in to my shoulder to block himself from the air. it’s so cold that the tips of my fingers are cracked, and no lotion can remedy that junk. it’s cold people, COLD! keep in mind, our grocery outing took place at 9:30 this morning, and when paul took red out to potty at 7:30, it was 12 degrees out. can you imagine having to squat and do your thing in 12 degree weather?!?!
so, i realize i’m living “up north” now, and that’s all well and good. but in addition to the cold weather, the people seem to be a wee-bit cold themselves. no one smiles here. no one. it’s the strangest thing to me because not only do i smile at everyone, but sometimes i’ll just smile for the hell of it. when i do that here, i catch myself and think “oh. right. people up north don’t smile.” i guess i’ve just been too southernized in that i say “excuse me” when i pass people in the aisle at the grocery store, or smile and say “thanks” to the check out lady at target. i mean, i get it. times are tough right now. lots of people are bummed out about this and that and the economy and the wars and whatever personal issues are going on, but c’mon. i feel like my first adult taste of living up north is rather bitter.
to remedy this situation, i’m going to smile like a goof at every one i pass. we’ll see what happens… regardless of how cold it is out today, i may just bundle up jackson in as many fleece zip up onesies we have and stroll him around until people return my smiles, because damnit, it’s a new year and life is good, so smile back at me for cryin’ out loud!