“Warm up the car,” I said today. “It’s very cold outside.”
Was Papa exhibiting common sense? To others it might translate to Papa being overly cautious. Sometimes that is the way it is with the obvious. It was 31 degrees out. The newest grandchild is bundled in warm clothing. It is time to head home. A cute cap is perched on top of that near bald head. A blanket is available to tuck in and around a new fangled car seat. I didn’t help raise a dope. There’s no need to give advice to start the engine ahead of departure. The kid will survive. HOWEVER, the words make ME feel better. Thus, the phrase means more to me than to be considered a perceived throw away line like “safe travels”, “take care”, and “drive carefully.” Let others think what they want. I felt good. And, when the car heater was running for a few minutes I felt even better.
Why do I write this post? Because I believe it is important to know that there will come a time when an actual warning might be essential. Circumstances will arise which are not meant to be treated with throw away lines. Dangerous situations need to be met with seriousness. So, the first thing a wise grandchild does is request an example. (What’s Papa talking about now and how did he get on this tangent?)
31 degrees is cold but it is not cruel cold. You’ll learn that there are places in this country and around the world that can get very cold. Zero and well below. If you ever go on an Artic adventure you’ll undoubtedly be prepared. But, you do not need to be Nanook to one day find yourself in colder than expected situations. Therefor, be aware of and prepared for “Cruel Cold.”
In 20 degrees below zero, and a car breaks down at night, the meaning of cruel cold is driven home very quickly. Especially when said driver is ill prepared to trudge four miles in deep roadway snow. ( Stop! Stop! Before you think it; there was a time not that long ago when cell phones did not exist.) A coat and tie with a light top coat doesn’t help a lot but with gloves and galoshes they were a plus for survival. The coldest temperature I had previously experienced was the Packer/Ram game a week before the famous Ice Bowl. And, dressed like a Michelin Man I was prepared for that event. What I thought I was unprepared for was that a trusty car would break down. I needed more forethought than that at the time. Think ahead and be prepared for the unexpected. If the car breaks down or a runner unexpectedly falls off your dogsled, there’s a second concept to consider. Like warmer clothes, food, water and in today’s age a stupid, charged cell phone. Just in case. You get the point.
More about how cruel cold can be. Years later, at Christmas, preparations were needed when it got to be 30 below zero. We were visiting a cross town relative. I traveled fully prepared. During the celebration I also went out every 45 minutes to start the car to be sure it’d be able to get the family home safely. Go outside, place beer can on roof of car, get in, start the car, goose the engine and listen to a few Christmas Carols on the radio. A good plan. Executed by a person prepared for the unexpected.
Have you seen the problem? Yes, it was right in front of a person supposedly with common sense. During one outing Papa slammed the car door too hard. Beer can fell over. Contents slithered downward. Howver, the liquid never made it completely off the car. It froze! That is “CRUEL COLD.” **
**(Wind chills not factored in.)
Papa,
Why would you bring a beer outside in first place? At 30 below? Hot chocolate I could buy. Are you making up a story?
WIP,
Let me explain. There were two reasons. Indoors, the can of the moderate beer drinker gets warm. Placement on the car roof chills said contents. Secondly, back home it was never a good plan to leave one’s beer unguarded; especially around family. Perhaps this post should more appropriately been labeled “education”.