I’m not sure if people in the Northeast got the message recently or not, but it’s cold.
And, at times, it’s been downright frigid.
You know what, though? It’s the winter. Part of being in the Northeast during the winter is dealing with the cold. That includes snow, sleet, freezing rain, bad roads and … yes, cold weather.
Another piece of breaking news — bitter cold doesn’t mean the world stops moving.
The one thing that drives me nuts is this whole thing about wind chill. I get how it works and such, but just because the wind chill is supposedly -25 doesn’t mean that’s the actual temperature. That means, if the wind isn’t howling, it’s not that cold.
When I was a kid, we played outside when it was cold. We walked to school. We did things. It was part of life and growing up.
And, no, I didn’t walk uphill to school — both ways, despite a shirt I have that shows otherwise. But I know what it was like to go outside when it was cold out. We bundled up, went outside and played. Maybe we went sledding. Maybe something else. But we went outside.
This was coming home one early morning from a friend’s after a night of games. This is cold. And this isn’t wind chill!
Recently, we had a wave of cold weather. Really cold. It didn’t get out of single-digits for several days and, at times, the wind chill made it extremely cold out.
Some schools even closed.
That never would have happened when I was younger (though, to be fair, it probably would have made many of us celebrate). Not unless something happened at the school. Many schools stayed open, too. And it seemed — if you watched social media — there was a battle line drawn between parents who thought schools should have been closed and the others who thought differently.
It was quite entertaining, to be honest.
It also got me thinking. What does this necessarily say about the direction society is going. In a day and age when many more people get participation ribbons than ever before, are we softening things? It’s one thing to close school with snow … but cold? What’s next?
Let us remember that once the kids are at school, they are going to be taken care of and, hopefully, be warm. There’s also lunch and, in many places, breakfast. As for them getting to school, buses work other days, so why not when it’s cold? If kids walk, bundle up. Or, hopefully parents or others can give kids rides.
That being said, I respect a parent’s decision when it comes to keeping their child home. Though I don’t fully agree with keeping a student away from school because of obvious ramifications, I fully respect a parent making a decision they think is best for their child when it comes to elements such as weather.
Beyond the obvious, this can also set a bad precedent for the kids as they grow. What will they think when they go off to college or join the work force when it’s that cold out and they can’t skip work or classes? Part of school is being taught real-life things.
In the end, though, it’s cold weather. We’ve had it before, we’ll have it again. I do what I’ve always done — warm up my car a bit longer, dress a bit warmer and head off to work or wherever I am going.
And look forward to warmer weather, of course.
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!
Last week was completely over-sensationalized by the weather outlets and media.
reesa lewandowski recently posted..Toys “R” Us $100 Gift Card Winter Days Giveaway – Ends 1/30
Fully agreed. It’s up there with naming every winter storm now.
I’m with you on the “Yes, it’s cold. What do you expect when you live in the north?” We just need to deal with it.
However, the closing of schools last week wasn’t just about the cold. At least here in Indiana. The combination of a foot of snow, horrible wind, and frigid temps made the roads dangerously awful. Up to 2 inches of solid and bumpy ice on the roads. It took my husband 2 hours to get to work each day. (No one went on Monday, as the mayor basically closed the city.) because the roads were so very bad. Buses could barely drive on the main roads, let alone the neighborhood roads. The only thing that could be done is wait for the temperatures to go up so the salt could actually work to melt the ice.
Stay warm. 😉
christine recently posted..Ten Things of Thankful, Week 30 – The Polar Vortex/500th Post Edition
There’s a difference between cold/snow/wind etc. then because of cold. The roads here were fine. It was just pretty cold. And actually colder the next day, when schools were open.
Hmmm well… down here in Philly it hasnt been -20 since 1994, so it’s not exactly the “norm” to be THAT cold here in the winter. Cold, of course, but that is more like “winter is coming” f-ing cold. SO, I see your points, and I think the news makes it much more dramatic, but dammit it WAS cold!! (also I’m originally from Florida so…)
Rachel recently posted..Recipe: Super Easy Cinnamon Crescent Rolls!
Ahhhh city folks! In rural areas, we’re used to it! 🙂
Really Great Post P.J.!
Myself, I quite enjoy walking my grandson to the bus stop in the morning when it is even super cold, a brisk chill wakes us up and makes us feel alive, so unless it is freezing rain, I appreciate the wintry days in the Northeast.
Thanks for the observations and thought provoking questions posed, loved it.
Peggy Gilbey McMackin recently posted..Crispy Little Red Potatoes
Thanks, Peggy!
The media totally overplays the cold weather. It is winter! It’s supposed to be cold. It’s going to snow.
Sure, it was bitingly cold but just bundle up and deal with it. I’m with you. When we were younger no one panicked over cold weather like they do nowadays.
Phil recently posted..Lamby lamb lamb. Down into my belly for a good cause.
Well with weather stations and such, they need to do something. So therefore, make it sound like doom and gloom!
Pilgrim stock. That’s what you are!! As one who lived in Omaha in the 80s, I experienced -20 temps with -30 wind chills for most of one winter. We still went to work. People put heat lights under the hoods of their cars in the garages. We stocked up on food so we didn’t need to be outside longer than necessary. And, to my knowledge, the schools never closed. Omaha was where I drove in white-out conditions to get home one evening after work. One thing I have noticed is some parents are just really stupid, and don’t dress their kids to stand outside waiting for a bus in these temps. I think it’s more for the safety of those kids with not-a-clue parents. But I agree, we’re fast becoming a society of wimps.
lisa recently posted..The story of us
Now that is going old school, Lisa! I just don’t get how people now can’t handle it. For hundreds of years, people have dealt with it!
I’m ashamed to say that I shiver when the temperature dips below 45! However, I agree with the silliness of closing a school which has not been snowed in! Kids have so much energy that they would easily beat the cold with their activity; it’s us parents who are the wimps and don’t want to go out! 😀
Roshni recently posted..My India trip in pictures!
It’s one thing to shiver (though it was 17 here yesterday and I went out with a sweatshirt), but to close things down because it’s cold? Sheesh! 🙂
As someone who takes the bus to work, which means I have to walk to and from the bus stop, I’d love for the city to shut down because of cold. It would take a lot in Boston though!
Kate recently posted..Boy behind the blog is back
It’s one thing to want it to happen, but I would assume you’re a realist and know it would be silly!
I’m with you. I couldn’t believe some of the schools in my area were closed.
MarlaJan recently posted..These are my confessions…
The best part is ones closing the night before!