Folks, it’s bone chillin’ cold here in New England these days. This afternoon, the thermometer read a whopping 23 degrees. Now it’s 14 and dropping. That might not seem wicked cold to you, but it’s a dry cold, if you know what I mean. Ha. (“It’s a dry heat” always gets me.)
Another World by allie taylor
Seems like just yesterday we moved back to New England. In reality, it was 2004. Eleven years and a few days have quickly passed since moving day. Some of you reading this were present the very morning the moving truck pulled away from the curb at the Jenkins’ Oak Creek home in South Carolina on January 1st. We’ll never forget your many generous helping hands and gracious send-off. It took a numbers guy to get the last three book cases crammed in the back of truck. (Thanks Blix.) Our eyes brimmed, spilled, and yours did too… but we didn’t say goodbye. No, we said “until we meet again”, then pressed the gas pedal headed north towards our next life chapter.
We arrived here mid-snowstorm on January 2nd. Maneuvering that big yellow Penske moving truck, we hit snowy Boston rush hour traffic and continued wending our way north. It was quite the adventure. (Thank God we had good friends to help.)
Back then we had just two little boys, three and five, both South Carolina born.
The January we moved back to the Northeast just happened to be the coldest on record for decades. Figures. My blood had thinned in the south, and my feet were always freezing.
But our little guys? They were practically in shock with the -10 and -15 degree days.
Within a week of arriving, Jon filled a pulpit in St. Albans, Vermont. St. Albans rests on the Canadian border. And just prior to heading north to St. Albans, the heater in our old Volvo wagon died. So we had to borrow a car for the northern trek. Stopping for a fill-up and dry gas for the tank in northern VT, another customer said the thermometer read -40 degrees at his house that morning. We’re talking freezing. Frigid. Antarctica and Siberia.
In the wee hours that morning, we’d bundled up for the trip. My kids resembled Ralphie in The Christmas Story movie, practically immobilized. Scarves, hats, puffy coats, boots and mittens. The layers made movement difficult, if nearly impossible, especially for our inexperienced little southern yahoos. And we ole’ yankees needed a refresher course too. With a three and a half hour journey north, we were eager to get on the road. Jon managed to get Jacob (3) buckled in with the extra layers, but in the rearview mirror I could see Jonathan (5) struggling.
“Honey, buckle your seatbelt,” I called back. “We don’t want to be late.”
“I can’t,” he moaned, wrestling the seatbelt, mittened and mummified under umpteen layers.
“Why do I have to wear one anyway?” he whined.
“Because,” I answered a shortly. “You were born in this world.”
“I was not born in this world,” an angry little voice replied. “I was born in South Carolina.”
Truth. From the lips of children. New England: Another World.
You may also enjoy this winter post: Misery Loves Company
Shelby Purtell says
I know the feeling coming from Virginia. Now I can’t imagine being in the south. I love the pictures you put with your writing. I can almost hear Jonathan.
Allie Taylor says
Thnx. Shelby, I can still hear the indignation in his voice!
Jan Finnamore says
No Kidding!! The first time I took my southern babies snow sledding, they were totally miserable. Uncomfortable with all of the bulky gear and just did not like it one bit. But we adjusted and survived, and now they are glad they grew up in New England. I’m pretty sure we had the same snow man kit. (By the way, the best snowman they ever made was a snowwoman who they said looked like me. They used dried hydrangea that they’d snipped off a bush in the front yard and gave it giant curly hair. Ha!)
Allie Taylor says
I would’ve loved to see that snow woman, Jan. Creative kids, and the apple don’t fall far from the tree!
Tracy Costa says
“It’s a dry cold” that cracked me up! I enjoyed going back in time with you. Love the pics of those cute little guys! I also came from the south. It took some getting used to for sure! We are hearty New Englanders now!
Allie Taylor says
YES!!! Hearty New Englanders you are.
Linda Jenkins says
Well, I’ve always been a New Englander, but as a child, it never seemed quite as cold to me as it does now. Perhaps because I grew up building snowmen, sledding, and ice skating (my favorite). Now, I can’t seem to get warm on days that are bone-chilling cold. In fact, no matter how many layers I wear, I am never quite warm enough. I long for the long, lazy, hazy, hot days of summer. I love the pictures of the boys. Looking at your pictures always warms my heart, and that warms me. Give me a warm summer day any day.
Allie Taylor says
Linda – you would’ve been such a fun playmate as a little girl. I loved all those things. I remember putting on ices shows with my brothers and sisters for my parents out on the pond…dramatically singing “fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices…” while gracefully (????) falling on our knees at the appropriate moment. XO
nancy mcmahan says
I lived in Arizona for a bit and always heard about the dry heat. Love the dry cold comment.
Allie Taylor says
Thank you Nancy! I have neighbors who winter in AZ because they love that dry heat!!!
Denise says
You crack me up. New England is Another World!
Allie Taylor says
Another…..Woooooorld….:) Glad it made you laugh too.