Even though today is relatively warm, this winter in Boulder “Global Warming” is a phenomenon happening somewhere else.
For almost two months now we’ve been living the frozen-Russian-tundra scene from Dr. Zhivago such that life has felt similarly tortured to said Russian movie, though (from my perspective) not nearly as romantic.
Driving to meet the friends for dinner last Friday, I noticed a Lara look-alike on foot, braced against the blowing snow, draped in flowing coat with a black wool scarf wound around her fur hat.
Obviously I couldn’t actually see her under the layers, but it just so happened she was heading to the same restaurant as my friends and me.
Without her outerwear, it was uncanny, she could’ve been Julie Christie, AKA Lara, except she was way too new millennium, sitting at the bar on her own, cell phone at ear, talking and listening, re-dialing, talking then listening, trying to connect with … Yuri, I guess.
It’s hard to get together with friends in the dead of a frigid-digit winter; either they don’t want to go out and you do or vice versa.
It did occur to me last Friday that it was insane braving the elements for social chitchat in a restaurant. Better to stay at home, have friends over, huddle around the fire and eat and drink, followed by Dr. Zhivago on DVD.
Yuri and Lara would have given an evening like that the thumbs up, especially given that their TGIF options were extremely limited.
When winters like this one usher in Russian-like weather, I do wonder about new and different ways to have fun with friends in the evening – fun that doesn’t involve dressing as if one is setting off for a quick trip to the Arctic.
I guess in days gone by, people did just stay at home and sit around the fire and eat and drink and … then babies were born in September.
I don’t fancy a late summer baby, but I do like the idea of merriment that kills the chill.
Tell me, what are you and your friends doing to kill the chill on cold winter evenings?
Look, I’m with you Tildy – there’s no point putting on all that gear to go out and just chat over a glass or two of the chards in minus 15 celcius. So me and my girlfriends put on our uggies and sweats and lay back on the couch watching re-runs of The Sopranos and 6 Feet Under – eating lots of warm comfort foods and thinking that when its warm we’ll go back to the gym again!! (cos there will be a few kilos to work off before looking trim taut and terrific for the summer socials)
Hey doll,
what can I say? Here in Costa Rica we save the ice for drinks…wait, don’t hit me! Ooh! Ouch!!