First thing in the morning I check the weather in Florida, the Adirondacks, Ireland, and Notre Dame; even international weather determines my day. Regardless, I’m kidding myself thinking I can change the weather by looking at it. That aside, it’s been really hot everywhere this Summer. I’ve lived in Florida nearly 40 years and it feels the hottest ever. Global warming gets yelled out a lot as the explanation. It’s the polar opposite of growing up in the Adirondacks in the 70’s when 40 below zero happened regularly. I remember watching the news on a black and white screen TV listening to Vermont meteorologists predict permanent cold weather for decades to come. The demand for flannel shirts and ice scrapers went through the roof. Fast forward the only chilly place nowadays is near the litter box. If I don’t clean out the litter box fast enough I get icy glares from the Maine Coon cats; carpet baggers who moved South for the sunshine. Whether we like it or not weather is a natural process, totally beyond our control. It’s like our personal health – some illnesses you create, but much of it is inherited. We can sit around bitching about our health to whoever will listen, but the key to living well is adjusting your life to the cards you have been dealt whether its health or weather.
Ice started forming on Lake George as early as October and hung around until May sometimes. Clear bottle ice formed first. Though thin it was perfectly smooth so you could skate for miles without interruption. The problem was it was only about 2 inches thick, so you couldn’t trust it. When temps were 40 below zero, however, there was no doubt the ice was thick enough to drive a car on the lake without thinking about it. One time in late February when it was warming up, Dave Delarm and I took his Dad’s Opel station wagon out on the ice near the Hague beach. We were careening everywhere, doing 360 degree spinouts, and almost wiped out a row of ice shanties. The ice fishermen chased us back to shore, where we re-entered over the melted shoreline. We hit the beach going about 40 mph with an explosion of ice, rocks, and water barely making it out. Fast forward to a few years ago and it was 65 degrees on Christmas Day with no ice anywhere. We sat around outside in our shirt sleeves thinking that global warming was kind of nice; however you cut it 40 below zero is simply miserable. This week the Adirondacks got over 6 inches of snow on November 26th; I’m pleased to see all the efforts to reverse global warming are paying off so nicely. 40 below zero, here we come again.
When I started getting in trouble my father would warn me, “you’re on thin ice” meaning my luck was about to run out. 2 weeks ago I got my results from the semi-annual PET scan. Waiting for a PET scan is maddening since it takes about a week to get results. That’s a lot of sleepless nights wondering how your life will unfold. My oncologist, Dr. Newman, read the results out loud and told us the cancer was still active, but it was growing more slowly. It would have been great to hear the tumor had disappeared completely as confetti dropped from the ceiling while we took selfies, but that’s not reality. Instead he said, “this is a long game, so let’s stay in it.” Diane and I were pleased compared to decades before when hearing the same news would have put us in a tail spin. I don’t sense I’m on thin ice, but I look a lot closer for weak spots to avoid falling in more than ever. Just like ice on Lake George changes every year, I know my health will come and go and some day fade when a future Spring arrives. In the meanwhile, this is a long game where I’ll keep driving life forward, but not in a waterlogged Opel station wagon. Slainte.
I can imagine that opel skidding around the lake….. weeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Thank you for the reminder that we are all on thin ice to various degrees, it’s just most of us go around unconscious to the fact. You and Diane are living on that hyper level of awareness where perspective comes into clear focus. Thank you for always inspiring. Sending you and Diane love and courage
Krista, nice to hear from you all the way from France! Diane and I have had a tons of funny stories living in the ADK, like Debbie, that ultimately fit into messages for everyone. Pete
Please add me to your email list as I don’t go on face too often. I do enjoy reading your essay’s every week Aunt Nancy
Mr. Pete… I think a great lesson in life is to accept the things we cannot change. Most of the time I am too laid back. I have no problem facing the consequences… but I do get criticized for it. I’m ok with it because that’s me.
The weather channel is for my mom. Nothing makes her more happy than finding out how much rain Texas had last week. Sometimes I don’t know how I am her daughter….because these things don’t even phase me. I am always barely surviving each day. But I will say…I love the twinkle in my mom’s eye when she gets excited about weather.
Whatever it is…we all need something to focus on…to trudge through this crazy life. I’m just happy for the people I get to share it with.
Cheers Mr. Pete! 🍀🪳❤️
Elisa, weather apps are funny especially in a group of people comparing different forecasts. Regardless, weather projections effect our mood more than CNN. Then the next day we forget about it. Maybe in another life your Mom was a farmer, just sayin’. Pete
Mr. Pete…I didn’t see this comment until this moment…but I had a big…belly laugh and I thank you for it. I don’t know how you understand everything…but you do. I love you for that. ☘️
Think I approved your post today, didn’t know the FB monsters killed it. 😐
Love it. I grew up on lake Champlain. I remember lots of shenanigans with cars on the ice. Loved ice fishing and skating. The thin ice was very scary. So happy that you’re doing well today!
Janet, thanks for reading and commenting. Even when the ice is thick these days it doesn’t seem like kids today get out into the wild to have a good time. Pete
Your faith, your resolve, and your ability to effectively communicate both is so inspiring! I do believe ‘slow and steady’ wins the race. Great post 🍀
Thanks Grace!
Loved the car on the ice…reminded me of Peter Carney driving our ancient VW bug down the ramp at the Hague beach in the middle of the night to see if it would indeed float. And, no surprise, it didn’t! Happy Winter wherever you are!
I floated my 71 VW autobug through a flooded underpass in the mid 80’s, just made it..
who needs the internet to be entertained?
Peggy, why do things like that happen at night and not during the day? Probably had something to do with The Cave nearby. Pete
Well said my friend. Love your stories. BTW, the first and only time I have ever driven on the ice was at the fishing shanty village in Port Henry!
Bulwagga Bay was the epicenter of ice driving
I loved the winter in Port Henry. I remember Uncle Johnny’s ice shanty and ice skating on Lake Champlain. When we left for our next military “adventure” – as I now call it, I remember my Mom and Dad’s excitement when Uncle Johnny and Aunt Joyce would send us some of the smelt he caught. And yes, the cars on the lake!
And I’m a fan of the long game. ❤️🙏🏽
It’s funny how ice fishing and driving on the ice were hallmarks of life in the ADK. I don’t hear many people talking about eating smelt anymore.
Excellent post!!! So glad y’all made it off the frozen 🥶 lake! Totally unimaginable growing up here in Florida, sounds like y’all did winter fun well!! Definitely smart to stay in and play the long game. We appreciate all you do, with your inspiring stories and your unbelievable fortitude and your non stop sense of humor! You are a funny man! Stay well!!☘️❤️
Fran, you could always give it a try and drive onto the lake in FL. Pete
You are so inspirational, Pete…you are in my daily prayers. I look forward to these every week 🍀🍀🍀
P.S. About 15 years ago, we were all at my parents house sitting around telling old stories. My brothers and sisters had my parents cracking up over old stories until I brought up that I had taken the blue station wagon full of my friends across the lake at the ferry landing one winter (remember that car..the one with the HUGE CB antenna on top)? You could hear a pin drop. I swear, I felt like I was going to be grounded right there on the spot at the age of 48. 🥶
Wendy, I always got a kick out of my parents getting all frosty with me after hearing high school stories. You’d think after I hit 40 years old I’d be out of the woods. Pete
Wendy, I always got a kick over my parents getting frosty with me after hearing our high school stories. You’d think after I hit 40 years old I’d get a pass. Pete