Yule-Midwinter Solstice Trek

 

Today was about as cool and comfortable as it ever gets here in the Central Plains.  The sun is warm but the wind is cool in the shade.  Low dewpoint and dawn temp in the 60s*F.  Like a fine summer day in Sugar Grove.  The air quality index (for PM-2.5 pollution) was the lowest in weeks.  All this signaled a chance to take a long walk in the neighborhood (with an N95 mask). 

I woke up at around 03:00 feeling cold.  I turned off the fan, but my bare feet were still cold, so I put a light blanket over my feet and legs – something I haven’t done in years. 

The most dreaded task of the morning was my shower.  Our house has never had hot water, so our water is whatever temp the environment is.  That is never much of a problem, usually.  Today, it was incredibly cold, by our standards.  Our veranda shower is outdoors, so that the cool morning wind really increased the effect of the cold water. 

Once I was bathed and stopped shivering, I ventured out on errands.  One, buy cat litter.  Two, get needed things at the pharmacy.  In all, it added up to quite a long bit of marching, more exercise than I had done in a long time because of the usual toxic PM-2.5 smog.  At first, I felt weak while walking, which was alarming and did not enhance my Zen.  But after a few kilometers, I got into my usual stride and really stepped out, feeling good. 

A curious thing about this midwinter solstice time of year:  the sun is at an odd angle I am usually not used to.  It produces a strong glare, even with sunglasses on.  Wearing a hat with a large brim, along with sunglasses, helps. 

The minutes and hours of daylight will now start increasing.  Rebirth of the Sun.  Happy Yuletide to all. 

-Zenwind. 

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