Weekly Banner-Cyber Café & Harold’s Barber Shop DrawingThe temperature still hovered about the +6ºF mark as I made my way, nicely (and warmly) bundled in my air force style survival parka, 3M Thinsulate™ gloves, and woolen socks. The headwind was bit brisk with the wind chill a tad below zero (funny—when I was young, there was no such thing as “wind chill,” we just knew it was colder when the wind blew).

I wish we had some fresh snow, the squeak of the compressed snow under the boot, the otherworld silence as the snow muffles the normal sounds of the day, and the little sparkles in the snow, are things I never tire of.

I arrived at the coffee shop to find the boys already there at our table by the front (frosty) plate-glass window, various forms of winter-wear were draped over the backs of the chairs, including a remarkable collection of ear-flapped caps. Gents our age generally remove our headgear when indoors—unlike today’s males who not only wear their caps backwards, but never remove them.

“A bit underdressed,” Carl started in, “doncha think, Jay?”

“Where’s your scarf?” Fred continued from behind his morning Pioneer Press.

“Those gloves aren’t warm enough,” Harold added, “where’s your choppers?”

“Back in the thirties, on the farm,” Medford said over his mug of cream & sugar polluted, organically & shade grown, fair trade, French roast coffee, “you wouldn’t have lasted an hour, dressed like that.”

“I was quite warm, thank you, it’s still twenty-two days ‘til winter,” I replied, wriggling out of my parka, “don’t want to rush the season.”

(Toasty Warm) Jay Merton

 

8 Comments on Old Men & Coffee Shops, Thursday, 30 Nov. 2006 Edition, Rushing Winter

DEC
01
2006
138,475 Points 14 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Morning Jay,

                    Betcha would have loved to have been standin on the back porch up here in New Hampsha. I woke up to 60 degrees but it is not goig to last as winter is fast approaching.

Take care and stay warm,

Jay 
5:52am • #1
451,406 Points 64 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good Moring Jay

6 degrees?  Okay I feel guilty wearng no sleeves. From the back porch in Florida it was 84 degrees yesterday!  Keep warm!
5:54am • #2
1,360,799 Points 93 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

what are "choppers" ?

we are still balmy but rainy this morning but IT is going to HIT today.

6:10am • #3
131,247 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Choppers: Buckskin outer shell, knit woolen liner. The liner is removable.

Jay Merton 
6:14am • #4
1,360,799 Points 93 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Thanks Jay I was concerned we were talking dentures. 

The storm is hitting here right now.  We have had rain for hours but the wind and driving rain right now are deafening!!!! 

 
6:21am • #5
131,247 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog
My "Winter Dentures" are fur-lined!
7:49am • #6
1,048,851 Points 397 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
I need to fly up there for a moning session. Like Allison stated 84 in Florida yesterday. I think I would enjoy some cold and snow for a day or two.
7:59am • #7
131,247 Points 25 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Bryant: While serving in the Army, I was stationed at Ft. Gordon, GA (near Augusta) for a time, and I truly learned how much I missed our four distinct seasons! I returned home in December and alighting from the plane, the first thing I did was grab a handful of snow!

I couldn’t help but notice what appears to be a fortuitous typo in your comment: did you intend to write moaning session, or morning session? Either one might (some days) be apropos ☺☺!

Jay Merton
11:55am • #8


What does the graphic say?
Leave a response…

(optional)
Spam Prevention: