The Cold, Hard Truth

Yesterday, we had EJ's last music class of the quarter. When we arrived, it was lightly snowing and 36 degrees. When we left an hour later, it was snowing much harder, the roads were slick, and the temp had fallen to 24 degrees. As we were driving slowly and carefully home, EJ asked if Santa was going to come today, because it was so cold. According to her, "Santa needs it to be cold---that's what he likes for Christmas." I explained to her that in some parts of the world in December, it is not cold---for some people December is summer and July is winter, so they can have a picnic for Christmas. She took that information in, thoughtfully, but then let me know, "Santa LIVES in the cold, Mom. It is what HE likes."

Well, I couldn't argue with her there. I replied, "Yes, Santa lives in the coldest place, the North Pole."

Her response?

"Mom, the SOUTH Pole is colder than the the North Pole. Animals live in a colder place than him. He lives in the second-coldest place."

As soon as she said it, I knew she was right. Even the interweb agrees.

So, I was honest. "You know, EJ, I think you are right. I said that Santa lives in the coldest place without thinking about it. The South Pole is colder."

Her answer. "That's okay, Mom. Do you know what the third coldest place in the world is? HYDE PARK, CHICAGO."

I'd contest this, but this morning we awoke to what the weather men and women are calling a 24-hour "arctic blast"---the high today may reach 14 degrees, but when her Daddy walked her to school it was only 2 degrees outside, with a windchill dropping the temperature even further. Our thermometer is now reading 4 degrees, which is not much of a warm-up since 8:00 a.m. Yikes-a-moley.

I love you Chicago, but I don't love your climate. I won't dwell, though. I think I'm going to spend my time today focusing on how grateful I am that I'm not an elf or a penguin. Maybe I'll buy myself one of these, so I can stay warm, Skywalker-style.