Category: weather

Posted in weather

Baby it’s cold outside (for some of us)

Posted on by William Douthwaite

We had a taste of Florida winter this past weekend. I woke to below-freezing temperatures for the first time in a while. After rooting through my dresser for a hat and some gloves, I went out layered in a t-shirt, hoodie, and coat. Any warmth from the sun was an hour away as the big dog and I set out on our pre-dawn walk.

Most mornings we encounter a few other dog walkers. We were very alone on our neighborhood loop.

Except for one guy. One guy was out scraping a light coating of ice off a windshield. This one guy was in nothing other than boxers. No pants, no shoes, no shirt, no hat, no gloves. Just boxers. He smiled and waved as we walked by, as if it were just another balmy day in the south.

I’ll bet it hasn’t been long since he moved to Florida. Once you spend a few decades here, you break out the coat when it’s in the 50’s. Until then, you wonder why everyone is bundled up!

Posted in weather

A foggy morning

Posted on by William Douthwaite

When I stepped out the door to walk the big dog, I had no idea I wouldn’t be able to see to the end of the street. We rarely get fog so this was a rare treat. I love walking in a predawn fog.

It’s disconcerting. Suddenly, the same houses and neighborhood look completely different. Have I been here before? I feel disoriented. Where am I? Where is my house? How will I get back home? Take a breath. Just keep turning left and you’ll be back at your house in no time.

It’s beautiful, but distressing. The clouds have descended and stolen the sunrise. They have hidden the horizon. How will we get them back? Take a breath. The fog never stays for long.

It’s confusing. Maybe my glasses are dirty. Wait. I don’t wear glasses. I’ll rub my eyes, and everything will clear up. Right?

Is it a fire? We had wild fires just a half a mile from our home. The smoke was dense when we evacuated. Thankfully, when the smoke cleared and we returned, our house was still there, unharmed.

It could be the darkness closing in. Yoda said, “The dark side clouds everything.” I don’t want to start down that dark path. I might never return. Maybe I should just turn around and go back in the house.

It could be a dream. I’ll wake up any minute and the Florida sun will still rule the sky. Everything will be bright and clear. If I can just open my eyes.