Much of America is enjoying a large dose of winter this week. There will be more to come.

This is “butt burning weather,” but let me explain. When I was around four or five years old I drank too much soda pop before I went to bed. It was a cold January night so I got all snuggled up in layers of quilts and blankets. Most likely, the temperature outside was about zero degrees. When I woke the next morning I found I was cold and wet. Yep, the soda pop did not wait on me to wake up and get to the bathroom. I was miserably wet and cold. The house was a bit chilly. We had a big wood and coal burning stove in the middle of the bedroom but the fire had gone out. My dad got the fire going and within minutes the nice warm heat from the coal and wood made the house comfortable once again. I jumped out of bed, shed my wet pajamas and ran over and turned my naked butt toward the stove. “Ouch,” I screamed in pain as I had gotten too close to the stove and burned my butt.

I immediately started wailing and had to be cared for by my mother. I have no idea what she put on my bottom but for the next couple of days it was very sore. On these very chilly days be cautious of the fireplace, wood burning stove, etc. Don’t stand too close to them and especially don’t get naked and put your bare butt too close. I can attest that the pain is real. 

I loved snow days as a child. I would play in the snow and had family close by to visit. One snowy day I sat with my cousin Johnny, his dad Junior and another cousin. We sat in front of an old wood burning fireplace that really did a great job putting out heat. We played Rook for what seemed like hours. Winter days like this are good for playing cards, monopoly or other games. My cousin Johnny also had a sled. We would come off a hill beside his house at the speed of light it seemed.

Playing in the snow can be fun but there are dangers. I grew up around adventurous friends who decided to ice skate on nearby pond. Buzz, Slim Daddy, Joey and others were enjoying the adventures of sliding across the ice when suddenly the ice gave way under Joey and into the water he went. I wasn’t there that day but my friends told me later that they made a chain across the ice and somehow, by the grace of God, managed to pull Joey out of the icy cold, frozen pond. They were able to save his life. I don’t think any of them ever stepped foot on frozen water again. Be wise and err on the side caution when it comes to outside activities. 

Thus, enjoy winter and keep your butt safe.

— Dr. Glenn Mollette may be emailed at gmollette@aol.com.