It really is true that it’s all relative.
Take a couple of weeks ago, for instance. It was freezing. No, really. It was 32 degrees outside. And that’s freezing by any normal standards, right? It is, after all, the temperature at which normal things, like water, freeze. But never mind scientifically-proven things…
Anyway, after weeks of sub-freezing weather (we’re talkin’ like 10-degree days), the moment it hit “freezing” there must’ve been some city-wide signal that went out that said it was time to strip off those extra layers because woo-wee! It’s warm! Apparently freezing means it’s tank-top weather. And shorts weather. And no-jacket weather. Apparently it’s a regular heat wave. Who would’ve ever thought 32 degrees constitutes a heat wave. It’s all relative, no?
I would have photos as proof, but I think those would-be photo subjects may not have fully appreciated the point I was about to make about them being ever-so-slightly crazy wearing next-to-nothing on a freezing cold day. So you’ll have to take my word for it and settle for this lovely landscape photo, instead.
Which brings up another funny story. On another one of the coldest days we’ve had up here so far (it seems there are quite a few of these, now that I think about it…) Tristan and I ventured up to the Chugach mountains to take some photos.
The light and snow was just beautiful. But it was cold cold cold. And I even had on layer upon layer (I’m also beginning to learn you can never have on too many layers up here).
Suddenly I hear the awkward kind of laughter that teenagers are so good at and I spot a group of kids in fancy prom dresses & tuxedos. Sans jackets, of course. They clearly wouldn’tve done it any other way. And because wearing a jacket, quickly taking it off for photos and then putting it on again when it’s 10 degrees outside would just be silly.
At that point I wanted to chuckle and feel proud of myself for having outgrown the age when I was too cool to put on layers to keep myself warm and then I remembered that even though I did put on a bazillion layers I was possibly just as cold as them. *Sigh.* Either these Alaskans are damned hardy or I’m a real wimp (probably both).