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The weather must be weird in Washington. The railroad diverted some trains around the middle corridor (here) because of avalances on the north high-line. But then they restricted top speed from 60mph down to 45mph to slow their arrival down because of flooding in Seattle.
We are supposed to get severe cold here about next Wednesday. It appears to be the front moving down from the NW. They expect down to -30° F. This year if it isn't cold here, it snows, oh well.
Back in about 1967-68, I needed to see a girlfriend off at a bus station and went out to start my car (1958 Ford ragtop) but it wouldn't start. It was -40° F outside (unusual) but it didn't feel like it with no wind. So I walked about 4 blocks to borrow a car. I wasn't dressed warm, with just a jacket on. That short distance I would have been OK except my ears got cold and I needed to warm them with my hands. Then my hands got cold, so I alternated putting them in my pockets. Within minutes I borrowed a car and drove from Mandan over the Missouri River to the Bismarck bus station.
Half way over to Bismarck my ears thawed out and they suddenly hurt so bad I was nearly in tears. But I made the bus station in time.
About a half hour later, I was home and my ears were greatly swollen, hot and brilliant red. My little brother thought it was so funny. He nabbed one and blurted, "Think they'll break off?"
Christ.
It did ...or tore on top anyway with a pretty light tug. Bled like a stuck hog. Worse yet, within a few days I shipped out for Basic Training. I told that barber not to pull on them on account they just got froze and were fragile. Sure enough, he bent them clean over to brutally cut my hair and the same ear bled again. My hair wasn't that long to start with. Butchers.
It's a true story. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't lived it. My ears were OK again in a couple of months. Maybe they get cold easier now and my hearing is going to hell.
Wes
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Hybrid Mode
