Let's Talk About...Preparing for the Cold

Ok. Daylight Savings Time strikes again. You might remember how I feel about it. But here's the thing. We gained an hour. But did we really? No. We just go to bed later and get up earlier. Or is it the other way around? In any event, the days seem shorter, the wind is ripping the leaves off the trees, and the weather is bound to get colder. We all know what cold weather around here can mean. But I had to learn the hard way.

When I first moved to Colorado from sunny California in March of that year, I was told there will be snow, but it melts in a day or so, no big deal. I was told the only weather issue to be aware of was the wind. I thought, "Wind? I can handle a little wind." I was used to the Santa Ana winds that would blow through Los Angeles and drive everyone a little crazy.

But, being a wise young woman, I thought I should probably buy some snow boots and a puffy jacket. So I headed down to the Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Long Beach and picked out a very cute pair of black boots. Small heel, fur around the top and made in Canada. Made in Canada! They must be made for some hefty weather, I thought. Then I picked out a cute white (!) puffy jacket that hit me just at the waist. I was ready for those Colorado slopes!

Not.

I arrived in Boulder in March. It was sunny and beautiful. I thought, "This is really nice. And so pretty. This will be a breeze." Well, you know I was totally wrong.

Within the first couple of days of moving into our rental house in Gunbarrel, it snowed. It didn't look so bad. What I didn't realize (among so many other things) was that the ground was still frozen. The snow turned to ice. Black ice. What is black ice? Never heard of it.

So on one of the first days, I walked down the driveway in my Keds to get the mail and just like that, I slipped and fell and nearly killed myself.

I thought, "Time for those cute boots." It was a good thing, too, because it was really starting to snow out there. Like a lot.

No problem, I laced my very cute boots, put on my puffy and blue jeans and headed out. I thought it would be a good idea to take the kids in the stroller around the block. Stroller? It was snowing. And remember, I had no idea strollers with snow tires even existed.

It didn't take long before we got stuck, and soon my feet were frozen and my legs and bottom were icebergs. The kids were whimpering. What was I thinking?

And soon after that, the winds started. I remember because we were asleep and the first winds hit our house like a freight train. You know what I am talking about. Fresh from Southern California, we jumped up and took cover under the nearest doorway, certain it was an earthquake. But this earthquake didn't stop. For days. I quickly learned you can't walk, talk or breathe in that kind of wind. I understood why those pioneer women on the windy plains went mad.

I needed to figure this out, so I stayed inside and stopped panicking in the wind. I asked everyone I met what kind of boots to buy, and quickly figured out words like Sorel, REI, Columbia, The North Face, and Merrell. I learned the value of thick soles, deep treads and fleece or fur lining throughout the boot, not just on the edge. I bought long Gore-Tex insulated coats, hats, and gloves for the family. I was ready for the winter when Daylight Savings Time hit in the fall.

Fast forward to today. Daylight Savings Time is still the harbinger of the winter to come. Now I may be prepared for the cold, wrapped in a heated blanket with a space heater at my feet, but I am already looking forward to the spring.