Our Evening Walk
by
Hazel Borodey
We have just finished our evening meal. Nick says. "Okay, let's go." I know that nothing is stopping him from his daily walk. I either go with him or he goes alone. I feel stuffed after that delicious "Borsch" that I made for supper. A walk will do me some good.
"It's blowing a blizzard out there, you can't see for a quarter of a mile," I say.
"I'll treat you to some hot camomile tea at Sun Stone," says Nick. Sun Stone is a coffee restaurant where we often step in for our tea during our walks. Since Nick quit smoking a year ago, the walks have helped occupy his time, and walking is very healthy for both of us.
As I step outside, I notice the beautiful stars our God created. It's amazing how the winds are swirling the snow around and yet the stars are shining. I see the Big and the Little Dipper. I shiver as the wind seems to blow right through me when I lift my head to the heavens. My husband locks the door, checking to see that he has what he needs with him.
Nick warns me of the fresh-fallen snow on the already slippery sidewalks, which makes walking treacherous. We plow through the snow and I am grateful for my knee-high sheepskin boots. We had listened to the radio for updated weather information. "Be aware of changing weather," the man on the radio had said.
Even in Winnipeg it can be sunburn in the early afternoon and frostbite by night. Temperatures drop rapidly, winds may increase or snow may fall at heavier rates.
"Did you know that the safest place in a winter storm is indoors? About 70% of winter deaths related to snow and ice are caused by automobiles," I say to Nick. He makes no comment.
Nick and I are dressed in layers of loose, light-weight, warm clothing. We wear mitts as mittens are supposed to be warmer than gloves. I found that wearing a hat on my head kept the body heat in. I have a scarf over my mouth to protect my lungs from extreme cold air. We avoid taking deep breaths and minimize talking. We watch for frostbite and hypothermia. We are aware that when first signs of hypothermia set in, we are to begin warming the person slowly and seek immediate medical assistance. We keep dry. Eating regularly provides our body with energy for producing its own body heat. We avoid alcohol and caffeine which can cause dehydration.
It may be cold but when you dress up in warm layered clothing, it's beautiful walking in our Winnipeg winter, even in a storm. There is just something peaceful about it. I had never appreciated winter as much as I have this year. I often used to think how I did it as a kid. We walked to school. We never seemed to be too cold to go outside to build that snowman or tunnels or igloos on Mother's garden which was full of drifts. What fun we had!
As we drink our tea at Sun Stone, we watch people, some of them jogging with barely enough clothes on for survival. Others have balaclavas covering their faces so that you wonder whether they are going to rob you or just keep their identities warm.
When we get home Nick decides to shovel some snow. He does some stretch exercises first even though his body is already warm from the walk. Nick says if he waits 'til morning, the snow will be hard.
We had taken precautions and read up on over-exertion that could cause heart attacks. Nick always makes sure that my car has a shovel, candles, matches, paper, and an emergency kit with some candy in it.
Nick comments on the snowman that the grandkids made a few days before when the weather was warmer. "Wonder if he'll be all right in this storm," he says with a smile on his face. "Better keep that window closed tonight. Those snow plows are out already and it hasn't stopped blowing." I like to sleep with the windows open.
"Can you believe that? The weather is supposed to go to +10 tomorrow. It will be slushy."
"Well, thank God we're not in St. John's. Did you hear that someone had a snowblower stuck up on the roof? I wonder if that is true," I say.
"Don't believe everything you hear," he says and goes outside to continue shoveling snow.