This past week has been marked in the area around my home by cold and rainy weather. The coming week looks like it will be the same. I’m happy to see the rain, because in this part of the world water is a very precious resource. but the cold temperatures are a different matter. I’m not a fan of the cold. My wife tells me that when it is cold you can dress appropriately and the colder it gets, the more layers of clothing you put on. It sounds good in theory, but I’m not really convinced. I put on a woolen shirt in the morning. Before I leave the house I add a heavy leather overcoat (waterproof!0 and I put on a scarf and a pair of gloves with insulated linings. It used to be sufficient when I was a young student in Michigan. But today, in the Judean Mountains, South of Jerusalem. I still feel cold. It must be because I am older.
In the summer we use air conditioning. But I also know you can dress properly for warm climates, too. First you need to cover yourself from exposure to direct sunlight. Its not just warm, it also can be a contributing cause to skin cancer. It is important to keep your head covered. A Mexican style sombrero is great. It has a wide brim to shade your body and a large volume top to insulate your head from the suns rays. Loose fitting clothes are a must. An open shirt without any tight fitting parts, no closed cuffs on the sleeves, no tight collar, and no tucking the shirt into your trousers. If you wear a coat or jacket it must be loose, not tied or buttoned or zipped. That helps catch any breeze and allows air to evaporate any perspiration from all parts of your body. Perspiration is the natural way your body deals with higher temperatures. And yes, you should drink a lot; preferably water, and in small amounts, but frequently.
You can tell from all the above that i am really looking forward to the end of winter. It has just barely begun,, and I already want it to finish. I don’t want the rain and snow to stop, but I wouldn’t object to the temperature being a few degrees warmer.
Wetherhorn 