Rant #3,978: Cold As Ice/Hot Blooded

Yesterday was another day where the temperatures got back to temperatures somewhat lesser than they had been.

It wasn't as nasty as Monday was, where the rain came down from the heavens in buckets, but it wasn't what I would call a nice day ...

But after temperatures in the 100s over the weekend, I think we all can accept two days like we had yesterday and on Monday.

On the other extreme, I remember as a kid--a really little kid, as my remembrance was from when we lived in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens--we had a day where it was zero degrees, maybe even slightly less than that.

I must have been three or four years old, so it must have been in 1960 or 1961.

All I wanted to do was go outside, and my mother was hesitant, as the temperature was just so cold.

But she finally relented, dressed me up as warmly as she could, and I went outside to play with my friends.

For whatever reason, I remember that there was no wind at all, and while it was cold, I must have spent a good hour, if not more, outside that day, because to me, it didn't feel like it was zero degrees.

You react to things differently as you get older, and, of course, I could never do that today, nor could I spend hours outside when it is 100 degrees or more at 69 years of age.

But at three or four years old, you can do things that you simply cannot do when you get older.

Ah, the follies of youth!

As you know, I hate the snow, but when it snowed when I was a kid, I just loved it.

I took my sled, went to the nearest hill, and did my thing there.

Now, when it snows, the last thing I want to do is to go outside.

I remember that when my son was a little kid, I took him sledding a couple of times, and to me, it was laborious, and I couldn't wait to get home.

Funny, I don't think he was into it, either, and the sledding never lasted that long--

Or he saw how I was, and it just took the fun away from him.

Today, he works outside in all weather--frigid to the recent 100-degree days--and he takes it all in stride.

My wife and I are very proud of him for his work dedication and in his reaction to the elements, and I think his work appreciates it too.

He has to work today, when the temperatures kind of get back to summer normal, but I know he will be OK ...

Because if he didn't tank last weekend--when he worked Friday, Saturday and Sunday in less than ideal conditions--he will be OK when the temperatures only get into the 80s.

Again, he is 30, so who knows how he will react to the weather when he is my age?

But for now, he is OK ...

And he stays hydrated, which is a major part of him being able to withstand the elements.

Me, I have heat prostration, so I really have to watch myself.

Three times I didn't, and I am really lucky to be alive.

Once, at age 14 or so, I passed out in junior high school in Rochdale Village, Queens, while running during gym class.

I didn't know how to regulate myself, so I went all out at first, and I just passed out after a couple of runs around the gravel pit, where we did our running.

The second time was the scariest time.

We had moved to Long Island by then, and at age 15 or so, I had my bicycle and was crossing Sunrise Highway to get to a friend's house on the other side of town.

It was a really hot day, and I know I completely blacked out crossing the highway, which is really a three lane thoroughfare back and forth with lights.

To this day, I have absolutely no idea how I got to the island in the middle separating the six lanes--did I get there myself and pass out or did somebody drag me onto the island seeing that I had passed out in the middle of the road?

I have absolutely no idea.

The last time this happened to me I was in my early 50s, and my family and I went to a game at Yankee Stadium where it was really, really hot.

I remember taking care of my son, pouring water on his head and getting him water to drink, but me ...

I didn't do anything to help myself.

I soon felt sick, went to the bathroom, and passed out there.

My son accompanied me to the bathroom, and he called security when I didn't come out, and I just remember them dragging me out, spraying water on me, giving me something to drink, and taking me to the members-only club that the old Yankee Stadium had to cool down.

My wife had to drive my car back home because even a few hours later, I was in no shape to drive that day, even though I felt much better.

They even checked on me days after the incident to make sure I was OK.

These things are frightening, and hopefully, these three incidents are the only three where I have suffered like this.

(I think there was another incident in summer camp when I was about 10 or 11 years old, but I simply don't have a clear remembrance of that, so I might be wrong.)

Happily, my son has never exhibited any of these things, so I can rest assured that he is OK, whether it is frigid or steamy.

Mother Nature can be unforgiving ...

And during those 100-degree days we just had, she was as brutal as can be.