Jan 22, 2019 3 min read

It is COLD today. Like, frozen-nostril, stinging-fingertips, better-dry-your-hair-before-you-leave-the-house cold. I think the thermometer in my car said it was one degree above zero, and it doesn’t factor in the wind chills. We didn’t get all the snow that was predicted, but the weather forecasters didn’t miss the mark about the bitter temperatures.

The low temps made the little bit of precipitation that we did get freeze on the roads, so I didn’t make it to church this weekend. I slipped on my way down the sidewalk and fell in the driveway while walking down to check the road conditions, so I limped my way back to the house and opted not to go out.

It struck me as odd, therefore, when looking at my social media feed later that day, to see some of those who DID venture out showing pictures of swimsuits and other beach wear being displayed at retail outlets in town. It reminded me of one winter in February when my husband went out looking for new long underwear and was told it was an off-season item that was out of stock.

He is a loud man by nature, and when agitated, he is louder. He asked – yeah, I’ll say asked – what season it was that a man who works out of doors in all weather conditions should be buying his thermals and was told they’d get some more in around July or August. They did offer him camping gear and beach umbrellas, much to his chagrin. (By the way, he is loud when chagrined, as well.)

Perhaps the displays of swimsuits are marketing more than just themselves? Maybe they are designed to get us thinking about what our semi-hibernated bodies will look like when our layers of sweaters and coats get peeled back to reveal all of our non-removable, extra layers. I know I need a couple more months to prepare to try on a swimsuit, but this weather makes me unwilling to think about it yet.

From working in retail, I do know that stores must order seasonal products in the off seasons to get the best prices. (Which is why our garden seeds have begun arriving, and we have placed our order for live chicks.)

At any rate, it was cold this weekend. The wood-burning stove had trouble keeping the chill off the house. We had to wear socks in the kitchen and keep the electric heater in the bathroom running, which is saying something for our house. That stove usually has us running ceiling fans and occasionally cracking a window open.

With that cold of temperatures, all I want to do is stay inside cuddled up with a cup of coffee, a blanket, and maybe a good book or movie. No swimsuits, no beach body, no spring items at work.

My brain is too frozen to do anything else at the moment.

Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.