As Cold as Bitter Cold Can Be

My hands flew in desperation, trying to pull up my hood. The crosswind as I crossed the intersection kept pulling my hood back down. The air was colder than I think I've ever experienced. My head and face went almost numb.

The earmuffs helped save me while I continued in my struggle to do a simple thing: pulling my hood up around my head. I reached the other side of the cross-street; the wind weakened just enough. The hood was up; I held it in place with my hands. Forget the ties. I was almost home.