Yesterday I had a concert at noon, but I had to leave early so I didn’t get time to write. We played at Hyannis Open Street outside in front of the Kennedy Museum. It was cold, especially when the wind blew. I had thought about staying home, cozy and warm, but I decided to go anyway. I dressed warmly, but my hands got cold. The crowd was a good one. They clapped and sang along at times. That made it all worth while.

Today is quite sunny but only 57°, the high for the day. My recognition of high has changed as the seasons have changed. This time of year I’ll take anything 55° and higher so today is a lovely day. Nala finds the sun. She has a sunny spot in the yard and lies stretched on grass where she naps. Dogs know how to be cozy and comfortable.

When I was a kid, the weather didn’t matter. I had to walk to school regardless. Part of my walk was by a field where the wind blasted across. Sometimes we walked backwards on the sidewalk by the field because the wind was so strong our eyes would water and our coats would flap. I could feel the chill. I could even feel the wind blowing up the arms of my coat. In the heaviest wind I thought I would fly.

The wind in Ghana came during the harmattan. It started in November or December when dusty, dry winds came down from the Sahara. The sun was vague, obscured by the dust. The air looked foggy. The days were hot while the nights were cold. The temperature could be 90’s or higher during the day and 50’s at night. I loved those nights. I’d lie snuggled under a scratchy wool blanket I had bought in the market. I still have it. The blanket is draped over a chair in my living room. The dryness wreaked havoc on my body. The heels of my feet dried and cracked so I had to walk on my tiptoes until my heels got hard. My lips too cracked. I remember my students in the mornings wore layers against the cold. I was just fine. I relished the chill.

The older I get the less I tolerate the cold, but I haven’t yet had to drag out my winter coat. It sits in the closet looking almost brand new. I have a wonderfully warm, thick sweater which is enough. I keep a blanket on my bed and am warmed by the heat of two dogs sleeping next to me or at my feet. During the day I wear my flannel pants, a t-shirt and a sweatshirt and either slipper or heavy socks on my feet. I stay wonderfully warm.

I have a filled dance card this week, all uke as usual. I have three concerts, my practice and my lesson. Today is a free day, but I have a few chores, and I want to try to bake some bread. I’m out of it, and I don’t want to get dressed and go out just for bread. I’m hoping for the best.

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This entry was posted on October 19, 2026 at 12:46 pm and is filed under Musings. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.