By Edward Forbes
The Bulletin
I watched a football game recently where the field was covered by snow and more continued to fall. I watched from my recliner covered with a blanket (freezing by association).
I remember the snows of 1973 and 1985 and 2004. Adults and children alike were outside making snow angels, snowmen, and of course, snowballs. I fortunately didn’t participate in these activities. I start freezing in the mid-60s, so the snow is far, far away from my comfort zone.
Jumping back to around 1963 in Luling, it snowed. I got really cold frequently, but the snow was unusual. My brother, Donnis, and I had a motorized paper route. It took about two hours, starting at 5 a.m., to complete the route.
Donnis rolled the newspapers, and I drove and threw (delivered) the papers at designated homes. The windows of the car had to be down, and in vehicles manufactured prior to 1963, power windows were not a standard option.
We drove with the heater operating to its maximum, which fortunately, melted the snow as it entered the car.
Unfortunately, it melted on me.
Cold water, colder wind, vehicle producing wind speeds of 30 to 60 miles per hour, and my outer garment, particularly my left arm covering, resulted in a cold that far exceeded my comfort zone.
Donnis, at least, was spared the melted snow but still got to enjoy the cold wind. Donnis was a deer hunter later in his life. He and his son enjoyed going to his lease and sitting in his stand, and the cold was a part of it. Sitting in a stand in the cold, waiting, with bad intentions, for one of Bambi’s relatives to appear, just never appealed to me.
I’m more of a 72-degree central heat (in my recliner) kind of guy. I dress in layers of clothing just to go to the mailbox.
So, no you won’t find me making snow angels, should the occasion arise, and snowballs are not a part of my activities when, and if, we have snow.
(Email Edward at eforbes1946@gmail.com or send comments by mail to The Bulletin, PO Box 2426, Angleton, TX. 77516.)
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