Fire and Ice

 

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire…

-       Robert Frost

 

I think Robert and I agree here. Not just metaphorically—ice as the frozen unfeeling heart, fire as passionate desire— but physically. I hate to be cold. More and more as I grow old. (Ooh, a poem on its way!)

 

So having come from summer in Brazil, San Francisco’s current icy air— so mild by Finland or Minnesota standards, but still… is not enticing me to get out to view the plum blossoms up on Edgewood Drive. In fact, it’s only 50 degrees (Fahrenheit) and says it feels like 45, but to me, it feels more like 35. But tired of staying in the house all day and wanting to see if I could get new glasses, I decided to brave the outdoors and walk to Walgreens. And peek at the plum blossoms on the way.

 

But not before digging into my closet and taking out a sweater from Iceland that was gifted to me 30 years ago. I’ve probably worn it three times since then, but now, its moment had come. Still I felt cold, even with a windbreaker over the sweater. I often invoke the Swedish saying, “There’s no bad weather, just bad clothing.” But what more could I wear here? Thermal underwear?

 

Well, I did have luck with the glasses. In fact, while paying the clerk said, “We have a sale price—two for one!” Sweet! Now I have an extra pair. And on the way back home, I felt quite a bit warmer and that evoked another old saying, “The thing about chopping wood is that it heats you twice.” (Think about it.) So I was reminded that the internal heat generated by walking indeed makes a difference and I should remember that when I set off to walk in the cold. 

 

That’s my story of the day. And for those wondering, there is a bit more to that Robert Frost poem, a timely warning that choosing hate is leading us to destruction. If only those who need to read poetry and don’t would learn this lesson!

 

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great 

And would suffice.