I'm starting to realize the dangers that winter presents to us   both physically and mentally.  Recently it was cold enough that I got a case of the "crinkleys".  My first chore of the day during the winter season is to feed the birds.  I bundled up beyond the point of reason.  Already armed with a healthy layer of blubber, I added layers of wool, a scarf, down jacket, mittens and topped it off with my "Mad Bomber" rabbit pelt hat.  I waddled gracefully to the door and out into the fresh air to fill the bird feeders.  The fresh air crystallized my lungs instantly and the crinkleys hit.  You've had them, your eyes scrunch into slits, your whole unexposed face tries to turn itself inside out to get where it's warm.  You have the "crinkleys", your nose feels like you're inhaling pins and needles and starts to run, in my case forming small icicles in my moustache.  Frost bite threatened and I realized that I hadn't made it off the porch yet.

I blinked my way through the beginning stages of snow blindness to the barrel where I keep the bird food, quickly filled the feeders and fought my way back to the warmth of the kitchen where I basked in the heat as I removed each layer and tried to find room for them in the closet.  My mission was a success, the back yard looked like a rerun of Alfred Hitchcock's movie, "The Birds".  The moochers were everywhere, three or four to each feeder, battling the hoards of grey squirrels that were also descending upon the feeders from all directions.

I stood watching for a while, worrying about the little chickadee who had his ear muffs knocked off by a raucous blue jay.  I was just starting to wonder if the penguins under the feeders were getting enough to eat when I had a lucid moment and realized that reality was waning again.  One of the biggest dangers faced by us during a winter season as cold as this one is the dread Cabin Fever.  One must combat the urge to become a permanent mental couch potato by keeping one's mind active, so I went into ponder mode.

Pondering has saved my sanity, such as it is, many times.  Focusing one's mind on a problem and pondering upon it keeps the grey matter from becoming moldy.  Pondering is an art form that requires practice.  It is different than thinking, which can be temporary and flighty.  To ponder well, you must sit and focus all your attention on a problem and try to think up as many solutions for that problem as you can.  The more unsolvable the problem, the better the ponder.

I've been doing this longer than most folks so I'm going to share some ponder topics to get you started.  These should keep you going until the warm weather rescues us all.  Now sit some place quiet and peaceful and focus your thoughts on one of these topics and have at it.

1.  How come people who are eager to tell you all about their religion never seem to want to hear about yours?

2.  What would happen If we treated any one of our many minorities the way we treat people who smoke?

3.  Would our society survive if everyone told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

4.  Why Is "Public Servant" so rarely used as a synonym for "politician"?

5.  Why do we consider movie and television actors and actresses experts on everything from global warming to world peace?

Well, you should have the idea by now, try it as a prescription to help prevent Cabin Fever.  Warning--side effects may include minor headaches, lack of stress and an opening of the eyes.  It has worked for me for years.

I have to go now, the penguins are starting to tap dance under the bird feeder and I don't want to miss it.

Thought for the week--Why do we say something is out of whack--what's a whack?  

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Whittle12124@yahoo.com