I grew up living in a farm house attic with my brothers. My sisters got bedrooms on the second floor. Me and my brothers would wake up with temps in the low fifties sometimes. Usually it never got warmer than in the sixties for a few months in winter. I was a lot tougher when it came to winter, back then.
After I left home, I worked in tropical weather for a couple years. I never got used to winter again, although that didn't slow me down for years after, for having winter fun. Lots of skiing, and always a few winter camping trips. Some of them in sub zero conditions. Ehh.. you dress with layers to stay warm.
But I hate the cold now. I can't even go for walks along the roads, the ice and packed snow is to slippery and I always twist my knee enough to not be able to walk on it. It's embarrassing to have to call for a ride home. Walking through the snow on the forest trails has the same results. The cold makes all my joints ache.
So I don't go out much in winter anymore, even walking from the house to a warm car, if the sidewalk is icy, I have to take very small steps to avoid injury.
I have an extra heater in my room, next to me while working on my computer. I think about those warm tropical days and nights... and getting a knee replacement. Maybe both, the other one is getting bad now, too. Not quite enough for a replacement, but it will. I don't like the idea of it, but I'll do it to be able to become active once again. I miss skiing, I miss a lot of things because of my knees. It's almost time to get them redone.A bad twist on my better knee will do it. Maybe it will happen this coming winter. Last year I came close enough a few times. I'm getting to old for the pain I endure. It's a little to much, and I hate walking with a cane.
Maybe in a couple more years, I'll be sitting on the beach, basking in the winter sun, once again. I day dream and make plans.
Ativan
