The coldest weekend

The bitter cold this weekend has been a cruel shock during an otherwise warm winter.  I was positive that steel would become brittle and we’d see vehicle axles split and highway sign posts snap like toothpicks.

My parents are visiting.  Yesterday, we were out doing some shopping and it seemed as though the other customers did not want to leave the warmth of the store.  People were taking extra time looking at what kinds of cookies or cereal to buy.  Car tires have felt square for the first mile or so after heading down the road. 

This morning at church, almost everyone kept their coats on, even while indoors.  I’ve never witnessed this before in a city church.  It was a pretty common occurrence though where I grew up.  Well-dressed people would stay covered in a layer of wool or some kind of stuffed fabric after they reached their pews.  It’s an old church in the country and it gets draughty around the windows.  At the cavernous place in the city where I worship, the air was crisp this morning, even though I’m positive that the furnace in the basement was probably doing its best to keep up with the temperature.  It even got colder by the end of the service and some people had put their coats on.  Fortunately there were no baptisms today.  I’ve never seen a baptism before where ice had to be broken in the font.

We went over to the farmer’s market after church.  The parking garage was the warmest place there.  The old Aberdeen Pavilion was almost just like the outdoors, except without wind.  Every vendor was wearing a coat and a hat.  About a third of them didn’t even show up.  A lot of them drive over an hour to be there.  Cars won’t start, doing farm chores on a freezing morning is more challenging too.  Returning to bed, sitting by the woodstove, or laying on a couch under blankets is a better alternative on days like that.  There was no risk of the pork chops I bought thawing out on the way home.

We’ve stayed inside ever since.  Mom made a great roast beef for dinner.  We’ve done a few household tasks.  She and Dad are watching TV.  I’m writing this post.  We’re waiting for a heat wave.