When I had my transplant at Moffitt Cancer Center one of the rejection side effects was heavy duty chills called “Rigors” (think Rigor Mortis). I was freezing so bad in August I couldn’t hold onto a cup of coffee. The chill reminded me of growing up in the Adirondacks in the 60’s & 70’s when it was always cold, even in the Summer. Although I’ve lived in warm weather for over half my life since, at Christmas I still think about stories from the past involving cold weather and they seem to have the fondest memories for me. One habit I can’t break, however, is dumping out boots before putting them on. When I was in 4th grade my Grandmother Lawson made my Dad move her old player piano into our cellar. Little did we know it was filled with rats so we had a rat infestation for the holidays. To be fair, rats get cold too, so they would crawl into our snow boots to get warm. It only took once to learn to dump your boots out before putting them on. That’s why I prefer flip flops now.
As I grew older it didn’t get any warmer, so as a high school student you had to create your own fun outside. We didn’t get cable TV until I was in college, so there were only so many episodes of Across The Fence you could watch broadcasted out of Vermont. Bored to tears, one Friday night John Rayno, Joe Corbo, Bud Dickerson and I went snow man hunting in my mom’s paneled Gran Torino station wagon. We each had a machete (didn’t you when you were 17?) and went cruising the neighbor hoods lopping off snow men heads. The back of the station wagon was almost filled to the ceiling with snowmen heads, carrots, and eyes made out of coal when flashing blue lights pulled us over. My promise to get us out of the jam fell apart when Officer Tom Ladue scanned the back of the wagon with his flashlight and didn’t even blink at my bullshit. “We heard all about you guys tonight from all over town.” He made us return all the heads to the houses we hit and turn in the machetes. Alas, my friends and I all eventually grew up and out, but I still think of cold memories at Christmas.
In 1987, a year after Diane and I were married, we were hit with my first bout with cancer treated with 6 months of radiation. A side effect of that much radiation is it lowers your chances of having children. Our first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, so our spirits were dimmed that Christmas. The next Christmas, however, Diane was pregnant with Devin in December, so we couldn’t travel to the Adirondacks for the holidays. We were depressed not being with our families; cooped up in an apartment in St. Petersburg, FL. It was pretty cold that year, so a couple days before Christmas we bundled up and went out to dinner by ourselves. We were trying hard to lift our spirits with old Christmas stories (snowmen hunting, boot rats, getting hypothermia, etc) but nothing worked. Diane (who is a force of nature in and of herself) blurted out, “I just wish it would snow right now, that would make me feel a lot better.” I rolled my eyes, but within a minute snow began pouring out of sky and the entire restaurant, patrons and employees alike, emptied into the parking lot to look up at the sky and watch a snowfall in St. Petersburg, FL. It hasn’t snowed in St. Pete since, but Devin was born that Christmas Day. Because of that special night I spend a lot of time reflecting every Christmas on the good things that have happened to me in the cold rather than the bad. It gives me Joy and Hope I’ll be here again next year. Peace!
Great memories! It’s wonderful how you crank them out wkly! Your book is inspirational and fun too. I know about checking boots and shoes because my grandgirl loved to put stones in mine– luckily she’s outgrown this prank, but I still look! Blessings to you and your family.
So many good things to remember!
The bad are weak memories as they should be, Evan though they rear Thier ugly heads but do not dominate in my opinion.
Merry Christmas Gods Blessings To All
Rich, have a great Christmas! Pete
Lopping heads off snowmen ⛄️…. Y’all were some wild and crazy guys!!! Have a wonderful holiday and leave the snowmen with their heads!!! Stay well!!! Merry Christmas 🎄
The kids had nightmares, but they’ll grow out of it
Pete a very heart warming story. God was definitely listening back on that day before Christmas. when your child was born and produced an unlikely snow storm. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
Ti has been a lot safer for snowmen since you left! Merry Christmas to you, Diane and family!
Tom, none of them became heads of major corporations. Merry Christmas! Pete
Cold blooded snowman executioner! LOL That is a great story. Can’t say I ever did that! But I can relate to the ole boot check! Even at camp in the summer, I check all footwear. Spiders like to hide also. Merry Christmas guys.
Jim, it’s never too late to go snowman hunting. Merry Christmas! Pete
Wow , seems that cold weather can’t dampen your Christmas spirit , Merry Christmas Pete to you and be Family !
Merry Christmas Tom!
Thanks for another great blog. Merry Christmas to you and Diane!
Merry Christmas!
Great post Pete and thank you for the rat story. I guess I’ll be checking my shoes/boots forever! Diane, can you send some snow to Louisville.
Grace, you might get more snow than you can handle. Merry Christmas! Pete
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
Well…Mr. Pete…you have triggered the good cry. I think feeling the cold makes you appreciate the warm…and that’s good to know. I am also pro flip flop. No one wants surprises…unless they are fun. Or maybe… a decapitated snowman…nothing says Happy Holidays like a headless snowman. 😂 Most days…I am just hoping to get out of the door on time…let alone having a furry surprise in my shoes. But I do think about checking them often. One of my friends put on a boot that had a cockroach in it…and it crawled up her leg while she was trying to get it off. I have a lot of boots…and trust me…I check them now. I never considered a rat possibility…so this is a game changer. I think the fact that the supposedly stressful Christmas is the one that you are blogging about. It proves that it was special. Sometimes…the most difficult times end up being the most meaningful…and that’s what Christmas is all about. 🎄💕🎄
Merry Christmas Mr. Pete
Elisa, no tears needed for snowmen since they grow them pretty easy. Merry Christmas! Pete
Merry Christmas!!🧑🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎁
Cheers!
Cheers to putting Frosty’s back together again.. Merry Christmas!
Not sure if all the heads matched the bodies, but it’s a long road. Merry Christmas!
As my wife Sheryl would say you live in the past too much. thank God for memories and about the good times.
We do remember the bad ones but more so the good. Thanks for great friends and more to be thankful for than not!
Richard, she’s just jealous. I like living in the past, especially ours. Pete
Those poor snowmen, or should I say snowpeople 😂! Love your stories Pete and Merry Christmas to you xxxx
Love the stories. Remember meeting your family for Christmas celebration at the restaurant in Rutland. Good times. Aunt Nancy
I’m dying…🤣😂🤣😂I don’t remember hearing the piano story…hilarious!!!