Snow started a little bit ago, but it will be under an inch, more of a snow shower. The cold persists. Today will be in the 20’s and tonight down to the teens. I’ll hunker down with my book and some M&M’s. The dogs are already asleep on the couch. They had a traumatic morning. They had to go out into the cold.

When I was a kid, on a cold Saturday like today, I’d be home. I’d be planted in front of the TV with my cereal bowl in hand. Snap, Crackle and Pop would be the soundtrack. Back then, children’s programs ruled Saturday morning TV. I had some favorites. Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, Sky King, Robin Hood, Captain Midnight, The Cisco Kid, Kukla, Fran and Ollie and Howdy Doody come to mind. My favorite Howdy Doody characters were Flubadub and Dilly Dally. Captain Midnight was the first science fiction show I remember watching. Sky King with his plane was unique. Sergeant Preston shared the show with Rex, his horse, and his dog Yukon King. One summer we stayed on an island in Maine. The house had a radio. I remember sitting in the kitchen and listening to Sergeant Preston. I remember the sound of the wind and the clomp of Rex’s hooves.

My father loved Spam. He especially loved it fried. My sister too was a Spam fan, still is. Once in a while I’d eat it fried in a sandwich as a last resort for lunch. The biggest problem in opening the can was the key. It was attached to the bottom of the can. You pulled it off. The key had a slot. The can had a lip and under that was a strip of metal, a piece of which was inserted into the key slot then you turned the key. This is where it all went wrong for me. The key started fine then went awry. The strip would twist, bend and stop turning. I had to use a knife to finish the opening. I had to be careful. The top had a sharp edge. I admit I did cut myself a couple of times, not unexpectedly. I always keep band-aids on hand in a variety of sizes.

Today is cloudy. It is still cold but at 32° warmer than it has been. The lethargy etched by the cold has permanently settled. I’m still in my cozies. I have nowhere I need to go or even want to go. Both dogs are quick to go out and quick to come back inside for nap time. They too are not fans of the cold.

I’ve been spending my days reading, watching movies, old movies, and checking out recipes and such on the internet. I fell asleep yesterday afternoon sitting on the couch with my remote in my hand. When it fell, the sound woke me up. I was surprised.

My front steps are icy, particularly the top step. I have to hold on to the storm door and gingerly step outside on the ice. Yesterday I had two packages delivered, all animal food. The heavier one had cans of dog food and cans of cat food. I couldn’t lift it. I slid it down the walkway and then turn it over and over to get it up the two steps. I managed the door, the boxes and the ice. I didn’t slip. I didn’t fall. That still amazes me.

When I was a kid, I loved to ice skate. I used to skate at the temporary rink built every year by the town at Recreation Park. When the cold came and settled, the town flooded a part of the field and then surrounded the rink with a fence. They placed a small hut on one side of the rink. A wood stove kept the hut warm. A guy always sat inside the hut to keep an eye. A bench was on each side of the hut so we could sit and put our skates on and off. Under the benches were piles of shoes and boots stacked high. When I had finished skating, it took a little time to hunt through the pile to find my shoes. I walked home with my skates tied together slung over my shoulder. It took a little walking before my feet stopped tingling. I was always tired.

I’m watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony. I do love pageantry.