New Year, New Adventures

We are sacked in, once again, with frigid temperatures in Wisconsin. I wish to be that hearty soul that walks to their evening meeting, even when the mercury is dropping well below zero. I wish to be the one who gets myself out there despite the cold, just for the sheer joy of being out there. But in reality, I am more fragile than all that. In reality, I am perfectly happy to steam by the fire and dream of being out there.

I do force myself out. Really, I do. But I am lazier than I would like, and the skin of my face has become less and less tolerant of the fierce winds and precipitation with age. I can cover everything else up, but some measure of face must be free if I am to enjoy anything, including an upright position. And there is just not much you can do when you lose feeling in your nose after a few exposed moments. My winter walks are much brisker than their summer counterparts, in an effort to work up some body heat, but also to get back to the warmth of my fire quicker, before I lose any appendages.

I was reminded once again that I am not of the winter heartiness ilk that I aspire to when we watched the trailer for Dave and Amy Freeman’s Bear Witness: A Year in the Wilderness, the story of their journey through the Boundary Waters. I followed what I could while they were there, so the footage was not new, but a timely reminder of my posh and pampered lifestyle. As I watched them both run from tent to the middle of a frozen lake for their monthly baths, I knew I’d become too soft. I might have to start hardening off the old nose.

We’re headed into Minneapolis in a couple of weeks to view the full screening at Midwest Mountaineering, and to meet Dave and Amy and hear their story firsthand. I’m a little excited. 8)

In the meantime I’m busy settling into 2017 and all that it brings. Four days in, and already I’m feeling behind.

• I just attended my first Library Board meeting as the newest fledgling member (I didn’t walk the 3 miles into town, but those who walked the 3 blocks still managed to make me feel guilty). Ten years ago I should have volunteered my time to be on the board. Better late than never. Hold on to your hats, Colfax. You may soon wish I still believed myself too busy to serve.
• I’m supposed to be preparing for the first ever, right around the corner, holy smokes Writers’ Retreat with my lovely writers’ group, deciding what I might work on. We’ve got a little house in the middle of the tundra, a stocked woodstove, and three days of uninterrupted writing nirvana. Can you even imagine?
• I’m pretty sure I’m teaching a class tomorrow, for which I have not prepared one iota. Speaking of iotas, have you ever considered learning the Greek alphabet? Steve Demme. 10 minutes. No kidding. Be enlightened:
  

Another round of procrastination, anyone?

Warmth to you,
KJ