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Real Crazy, Hazy Days
What is it about winter that makes reasonable people suddenly go a little soft in the head, a little crazy?
Children especially seem easy victims for the mischief-making
sprites that blow into the North Country on the fierce winds and frosty
flakes of winter. How many of you as a child put your tongue onto metal
or glass or some other quick-freeze material and then instantly
discovered yourself in a serious dilemma endangering taste buds and
dignity alike? Come on, own up. And, yes, my hand is among those raised
and my tongue is among those so initiated.
My nemesis, by the way, was a screen door handle, which is
why I know that there is some force outside ourselves at work in
winter. I would never, never - even with my hands clutching my homework
and flute as they were that day - have ever tried to open the door with
my mouth in the summer. I swear that door handle called to me before it
grabbed my tongue and I believe I heard it snicker afterward. And what
do you do with your tongue frozen to a door handle? Knock on the door?
Get your mom to open it? Aaaaaaa! Well, I’m here and happy today, but
I’ve never been good as a broadcast journalist. There may be some
connection.
Now I have not succumbed to every lure of the winter sprites.
I have not plunged into the waters of Lake Superior in the months from
November to March. And yet you will read in this issue about mayors and
law enforcement officers - reasonable people most of the time - who do
just that of their own free will (unless you believe in the sprites, of
course).
While I’ve strapped on cross-country skis a time or two, I’ve
certainly never gotten myself into a marathon with 4,000 other capable
skiers. We introduce you to some regular folks - not extraordinary
marathoners - who did just that last year at the American Birkebeiner
and fully intend to do it again this year. Apparently summer did not
melt away their enthusiasm for a cross-country challenge.
I have not taken a team of dogs across the barrens of the
lake nor the pathways of the woods. It wouldn’t take a sprite to
encourage me to do that; I’d love to run the dogs as do the writers who
will tell you about their sledding experiences. Winter seems to
super-charge dogs and these two mushers get a charge being around them
when it does.
Those who shut themselves into small, wooden rooms spewing
molten-hot steam can’t blame winter for that affliction. I’ve known
many folks who take saunas any and every time of year. I’ve indulged in
a few saunas myself and am the better for it. You can drop in on the
writer featured in these pages who tells you about the cultural
traditions connected to those steam-filled rooms, and don’t forget to
try out the Finnish bread recipe that adds a sweet taste for the sweet
tooth steamed fresh from the sauna.
It really isn’t a lack of things to do in winter that opens
the door for a little craziness. The pages of this issue are filled
with snow-bound ideas. Perhaps snowbanks and temperature plunges can
bring the child back within us. It’s nice to think that. Just keep me
away from the screen doors.
Konnie LeMay
Editor
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