Weather and maturity.
I grew up in the Midwest portion of the United States, specifically, Winnetka, Illinois.
Winnetka is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, and therefore winters in Winnetka can be brutal. Temperatures falling into the teens and single digits are common. Blizzards routinely drop 6 or more inches of snow at one time. At your peril, you forget to acknowledge the notorious wind chill factor. Wind chill factor is when you take into account how hard the wind is blowing and subtract it from the still-air temperature. What you end up with is a 20 degree day that feels like -30 degrees.
And yet, from early childhood to this very day, I admit to loving Winter. In fact, it is my favorite season. The brutal nature of the wind, snow, and cold doesn't annoy me.
Over the years, how I combated frigid weather has evolved from . . . well, let me explain:
The Early Years
My parents had me battling the elements in multiple layers of clothing.
Now, we're not talking about the Patagonia version of layering. No, I'm afraid I stepped outside my home on any given day looking rather like a long lost cousin of the Michelin Man. Or the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
Before I was allowed to play in the snow, I had to put on long underwear, tights, knee socks, yet another pair of socks, pants, shirt, sweater, snow pants, snow jacket with hood, gloves, waterproof mittens, hat to go under my hood, and a long scarf to wrap around my neck and face. How I ever managed to run and play in the snow is still a mystery to me.
The Stupid Years
My middle school years were spent in Winnetka, but my high school years were spent in Massachutes.
Location made no difference as to how I handled winter weather; stupidity reigned supreme. When my hormones kicked in, any common sense I possessed flew out the window. Suddenly, looking cute was more important than preventing pneumonia or frost bite. It was not unusual for me to go out in just a fitted coat or jacket, gloves, and boots. On a very cold day, I would wrap a scarf around my neck and pull it up to cover my mouth and nose. Ear muffs, possibly, but it would depend upon what I had planned for the day. If I needed pretty hair, there was no way I would put those muffs on my head. And a hat--perish the thought.
My friends and I would have sworn on a stack of bibles that we were not cold.
We were liars . . . or delusional, at best.
A Glimmer Of Hope
Back in the Midwest for college.
I did my undergraduate work at Northwestern University, once again living along the shores of Lake Michigan. And yet again, facing brutal winter weather conditions.
As temperatures dipped into negative numbers due to 30 mile an hour winds, I trudged to classes in jackets, boots, pants, and a scarf. Hats, not often. Cute was still the operative word. On the rare occasion a fleeting thought of, "jeez, perhaps I should dress more warmly" would pass through my brain. Did wisdom and appropriate action follow? Nope. Rare and fleeting are the operative words.
No Denying the Truth Yet Still Working The Old Habits
Graduate school at Northwestern and the University of Chicago. Both campuses supposed fertile breeding grounds for intellectual development and common sense . . . . well, perhaps for all things educational, certainly not for all things personal.
I still fought blizzards and sub zero temperatures dressed in outer garments very similar to what I wore as an undergraduate. The only difference was I could no longer deny the truth. I was freezing.
With Age Comes Wisdom
I cannot pinpoint the exact time or place, or day or age, but there was a moment when I said to myself, "I am freezing to death," and I acted appropriately on that thought.
As I type these words, I happily admit I've come full circle. I am back to dressing in layers, but any resemblance to the Michelin Man or Mr. Stay Puft is nonexistent.
Posted by Pamela Wellesley at 12/6/2008 9:25 AM 
Categories: clothing,friends.,Winter,snow,University of Chicago,Northwestern,stupidity,family
Categories: clothing,friends.,Winter,snow,University of Chicago,Northwestern,stupidity,family
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