Not yet sub-zero

 

It is cold this week in Spokane, but not nearly as cold as winters in Rexburg, Idaho in the 1980's.  Many winter days in Rexburg reached sub-zero temperatures, especially when factoring in the wind chill. I am so happy to not be shoveling feet of heavy snow and shivering to my bones.  

However, the Spokane homeless population is suffering without enough warming shelters available to prevent frostbite.  Our own homeless penguin has been camping out on the sofa this week and eating all the canned corn, cheese, sausage, bread, jalapenos, green olives, pasta and pasta sauce, and brown sugar in copious quantities.  His meal concoctions sometimes turn our stomachs, but he always seems to enjoy them and invites us to enjoy it also.  He is also willing to share our goods without asking, electronic device chords and plug ins, carbonated beverages, sweets of all kinds, stray socks, misplaced coins, and laundry detergent for daily loads of clothing and occasional shoes. Tonight, he is shivering beneath blankets due to chills and fever brought on by the local winter illness he caught.  Influenza A is rampant in Spokane this season.  Incident reports submitted at work reflect numbers of disabled and homeless population frequenting the emergency room.   Thankfully, this is not another pandemic.  

Our emperor is endeavoring to remain upright traversing the icy sidewalks and parking lots.  Neuropathy has damaged the nerves in his feet, and unfortunately, this leads to some balance issues on snow and ice.

Each of us have managed to display penguin characteristics over time.  Some of "huddle" shifting in and out of spaces for protection and warmth.  Some prefer land or underwater exposures lacking capacity to fly. Some carry more insulation than others.  Some preen with greater frequency than others.  A few are prone to slapping one another, at least verbally.  One in particular approaches everyone like an old friend and our entire brood provides surveillance against this vulnerability.  None take the penguin references seriously, but we have found humor recognizing our penguin-like behavior.