Dog Days on the Golf Course

Chloe is our chocolate labrador retriever. Her exploits have sent her into bramble bushes and icy creeks. She is stoic and non-plussed by any and all incidents. She rallies forth again in search of anything that moves-field mice, mallard ducks, wild turkeys, squirrels, wrens, etc. I marvel at her agility and her ability to move despite the cold. I am totally bundled these last few weeks in sweatshirts, sweaters, down vests and a shearling coat with hood, gloves, shearling lined waterproof boots and still cold and freezing. Chloe is bounding about as though it were 80 degrees and sunny.

This gives me pause. What world am I in that I am so uncomfortable in the cold, secured by layers of clothes, yet her sleek coat is all she has on and I know she feels the cold but it does not immobilize her. Why do I as a human, because I "know" it is cold, become reptilian and am totally at a stand still, impatiently waiting for the spring thaw. I am jealous of her happiness. I decide to jump around and call her back and try to jog a bit to move the blood around and heat up the inner core. I call on my yoga practice of stillness and visualization of a bright hot sun within my center warming me up. Nada. The wind bites my nose and it drips, it stings my eyes and they tear. I cannot see well when that happens so I raise my hand to wipe IT away. My gloves are so bulky they poke my eye. It is useless. I am a prisoner of my protective clothing. How do skiers do it? Am I of such lesser mettle that I am the only one who cannot bear this incessant cold weather?

When I moved here last November residents stated emphatically that it does not get cold here (in western NC). Hah! What is cold to them anyway? Way below zero? I have some phenomenal boots by Pajar-Canadian made and they claim to keep one warm at -76 below Celsius. Qu'est-ce c'est -78 celesius? I bought them at endless.com and am eternally grateful to them for stocking Pajar. I want more. Anyway, I digress. Cold is 30 degrees or less. I am experiencing 8 degrees with a wind chill that makes it feel like below 2 degrees. Two degrees? Cold in Florida is below 55. That was when I dug out the woolen suits and my trusty Calvin Klein black shearling hooded coat that I bought (and thankfully kept) 20+ years ago. Ah, foresight...I knew a classic when I saw it and knew it was an investment that might not reap its rewards immediately, but bought it anyway. I am grateful for having it walking the dog. Wind does NOT go through this coat. It does go onto any exposed parts-my face. My next trek is to Asheville in search of a woolen face mask to cover cheeks, forehead and nose. I digress again. Ultimately I love fashion and must feel semi-fashionable even when I am walking the dog on a deserted golf course on trails covered in slush and ice and mud. The boots help my psyche. I slather Burt's Bee's on my dry lips and Bliss' Body Butter on my hands. I am ready as I will ever be...onward Chloe, mush, mush, for an hour of exercise...