This week raised the first red flag that I may have reached a certain age — the age where men pay for everything with exact change, have no concern over wearing a beret or flirting with the cashier at the grocery store, or begin every story with the phrase: “Back in my day …”
The event that sparked my fears was last week’s cold weather snap.
It has been cold before. But last week’s cold weather forecast, not the weather itself, caused schools across Chicago to announce that they would close.
Upon hearing the news, I immediately thought to myself: “Back in my day, they didn’t close schools for cold weather.”
Indeed, I racked my brain and recall only one closing in my long history of Chicago weather — the snowstorm of 1967. I remember getting a ride to school that morning instead of walking the seven blocks and being glad for the ride when I saw a girl who lived half a block away standing soaking wet in the hallway.
In high school we had cold and snowy days. But that just meant waking up an hour earlier to take the CTA to good old Lane Tech. I remember one winter storm when other high schools in Chicago closed, but Lane stayed open. One teacher came into the auditorium announcing, “That’s why Lane’s No. 1.”
The only reprieve from bad weather I could recall was an announcement from Mr. Penfield, his voice slow and steady over the loudspeaker in each room, proclaiming: “Today’s inclement weather has caused an excessive number of students to be tardy to school. Please allow students into class without a tardy slip.”
I was not alone in my surprise in the rush to close school. My wife said the same things about last week’s closing. And so did just about every adult I met.
The questions: Is it really that cold? Hasn’t it been this cold before? They sell all sorts of high tech cold weather gear all over and they close school for this?
Chicago Public Schools announced that they would be open for students to come and hang out after announcing that they would close for instruction.
Huh? It’s too dangerous to go to school to learn, but not too dangerous go to school to hang out?
Everyone seemed to use safety as the reason for closing schools, and citing the fear of a student getting frostbite.
I suppose it is possible if a child is sent to stand outside waiting for the bus without a hat or gloves or coat. Or a kid might try what I did in first grade, leaving the house with my hat on, throwing it into the basement before I left and retrieving later and to pretend I wore it all day.
But high schools closed too? I see teenagers going to school in and no jacket almost all winter if it is 20 degrees or warmer.
When it comes to safety, let’s face facts. Schools are driving kids around town in buses without seat belts. If I try that with my air-bagged SUV, I’ll be hauled off to jail and have an interview with DCFS
Which reminds me: Back in my day, we didn’t have seat belts.
Now excuse me. I’ve got just enough change to buy a loaf of bread at the store. I hope my favorite cashier is working!