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It might be easy, and understandable, to look back with bitterness at the bitter cold we just experienced. Not me.
Instead, I am putting away my typical whiny wintery words, complaints about this or that, and accentuating the positive of those temperature-challenged times.
Positives, you ask? The recent weather, brrrr, brings back special thoughts of my childhood in the north country. Who didn’t love it when the picture window in the house froze over, as the windchill hit 50 below zero?
We watched with anticipation as Dad plugged the car into a head bolt heater in hopes the engine would turn over in the morning. The odds of it starting were 50-50, at best, so odds were decent we would be late for school.
There were those fond memories from the winter of 1966, when snow drifts reached the roof tops of many houses. True story.
Upon arrival in New Mexico in the summer of 1985, it quickly became apparent that the weather would be at or near the top of the list of favorite things the Land of Enchantment offered. First, it had four distinct seasons — summer, fall, winter and windy.
How wonderful to comfortably wear sweaters outside as that first November rolled around, the parkas parked in the closet. On the downside, I quickly became a bit soft, griping when the temperature dived shortly before Christmas. How dare it dip into the mid-30’s?
Back to the pluses that have arisen from what history books will certainly call the “Cold Snap of 2025.”
The roar of the fire became a staple at the Powers Ponderosa like never before, bringing warmth and that special aroma.
All but forgotten thermal socks and long johns found their way out of the back of a closet and were put to work again.
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Our beloved cat, Amelia, refused to go outside, leaving more opportunity to snuggle with us. Purrfect.
As the furnace growled much of the night, no sense dwelling on how high the heating bill will be but instead focus on how we are helping PNM reach its earnings goal. You are welcome.
The space heater salesman likely had a record-setting month, too. Three space heaters continue to whirr at the News-Bulletin offices, bringing unity to the staff. “We’re all in this together” is our cry!
While covering a recent sporting event, I witnessed something I’ve never seen — a space heater was brought out to the scorer’s table to unthaw the feet of the crew, including one member wearing a furry hat with ear flaps. Mind you, this was not at a football game but a girls’ basketball contest inside the Valencia High School gymnasium.
“Better get a blanket from your car,” was the ticket takers warning upon entrance. I scoffed at first, but after failing to find a seat on the bleachers away from cold air blown by the HVAC system, it was back to my vehicle.
By the start of the game, my ensemble included a T-shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie, winter jacket, beanie and a blanket. Needless to say, my stay lasted only as long as absolutely necessary. Pity the players who were obligated to wear shorts and jerseys instead of sweatpants and sweatshirts.
It revives memories of a story my wife, Patty, tells from her school days in a small South Dakota town, about how girls were required to wear dresses in class, no matter how frigid it was. That rule changed when her father, Rudy, was elected to the school board.
This recent winter blast brought a renewed appreciation for those still required to work outside on roads and houses or delivering mail and other precious cargo (like my favorite brand of potato chips). A tip of my knit cap to you.
Yes, the mighty power of the sun is returning. Soon bees will buzz, flowers will bloom and weeds will sprout. That’s a good thing.
However, as feeling returns to our extremities, we can always look back at those precious memories from Valencia County’s big freeze.
