Day 837 Brown gold

 

Memories of visiting NYC to see the Macy's Day Parade, I can still feel the cold running through my bones! Six years ago Tim and I traveled to the big city, exited to watch the parade and experience the madness. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with one of the coldest days in history, not exactly a great day to spend hours outside. The wind chill was brutal and the tall buildings surrounding us acted as wind tunnels, placing us right in the path of bitter cold gusts. We wore layers upon layers of clothing, trying to minimize any bare skin being exposed to the elements, fearing frostbite. With all our best efforts, the cold ran right through us, down to our bones. It seemed the cold was shooting up through the bottoms of our feet, as if we weren't wearing wool socks and winter boots. This was the day I learned the value of cardboard, brown gold. The smart people carried a segment of cardboard with them and whenever they had to stand still to watch the parade they would place it on the sidewalk, stand on top of it and I knew from their look of warmth that the cardboard was like a magic barrier to the cold. If there had been a street vendor selling squares of cardboard, both Tim and I would have paid good money for one. Now you see why I line my henhouse in cardboard, giving my girls a little slice of warmth and never again taking for granted the value of the thick brown paper. The parade almost didn't happen due to the high winds, but the powers that be allowed it to happen, cold, windy but busting with holiday cheer. I couldn't slip into self pity and complain about being cold once I saw some of the parade performers go by in little dresses or other minimal costumes, yikes! Imagine being one of the Rockettes, bare legs kicking away in brutally cold weather? Those poor gals had to be frozen for weeks. I watch the parade these days from my cozy, warmth  kitchen. NYC is a fun place to visit, especially during the holiday season, but I'd check the weather forecast before heading that way, and pack cardboard accordingly.