Well, you can take the girl out of Oklahoma, but, well, you know the rest. I've been fleeing Oklahoma most of my life. Early on it was the provincial aspects. In 1972 there wasn't really any great art - not according to my limited 22 year old perspective. It wasn't until eons later I realized the wealth of Native American art the state possesses. Gilcrease, in my hometown of Tulsa, is a small museum dedicated to Native American art and is considered one of the finest in the country. The ballet was (and is) woeful, and the theater offerings not much better. Most cultural events still arrive and leave sometimes after giving only a single performance.
Perhaps that longing to see the great paintings of the world and to watch great dancers and actors live is one of the reasons I've been so delighted to live in NYC. This Saturday we are headed to the New York City Ballet to see a performance of 'Jewels', a famous ballet choreographed by George Balanchine. He's probably the most well known ballet choreographer of the 20th century.
All of that aside, what utterly amused me is today I wore a sweater in September. It was 55 degrees when I took off for the store this morning at 8:00 am, and even as hot natured as I am, that was distinctly chilly. Growing up in Tulsa, it was often chilly in the mornings in late September. (This was prior to the warming trend that is currently assailing all of the continent.) That chill is the reason none of my schools were air conditioned. School didn't ever start until the Tuesday after Labor Day, and if you sweated the first few weeks, well, kids could just suck it up since sweater weather was just around the corner.
If I'm wearing a sweater in September before my birthday, I'm beginning to comprehend my daughter's comment that I was going to need 'over the ankle' snow boots for the coming winter. I think I'm in denial. The last time I experienced WINTER with a capital W was when I lived in Oklahoma while at college. Believe me, Norman (home of Oklahoma University) wind chill hovered below freezing for way, way too many days. Man, was I ever glad I owned a 'maxi coat' - a short lived fashion trend of the early 70's in which winter coats hit your ankles. These long coats were the only really practical solution to problem of winter temps and mini skirts. {Aside: To those too young to remember, a proper mini skirt hit just below your butt curve, and cold air would cause goose bumps in unexpected places. FYI mini skirts fueled the take off of panty hose.}
There was certainly never anything even remotely approaching winter in either Houston or New Orleans which were our homes for about 20 years. Shoot, there wasn't even four distinct seasons in those towns - just horribly hot and humid and mildly hot and humid. It wasn't until we moved to Hurst, Texas (between Dallas and Fort Worth) that I even saw a turned leaf. There are four seasons there - but winter lasts one month. Not snow boot weather.
In New York you walk everywhere, or at least walk to transit to get to your destination. I can see that waterproof is going to be a necessity since I've already seen 4" deep water at the intersections during rain. I've been investigating. Apparently, there are 'rain boots'. These are waterproof shoes - Sperry has been making this type of shoe since rich people started boating. These shoes have sort of slopped over into urban wear. They can be low cut or above the ankle. These also come in the snow boot variety which is different from rain shoes in that there's a faux fur or flannel lining. There are also galoshes which are all rubber boots similar to the child's version. Basically, they just keep your feet dry except when they sweat because, well, they are rubber.
My plan is to try on snow boots some time next week at the DSW, and then decide. Naturally, this will be torturous because of my damn feet. Hopefully, I can find something round toed that doesn't cost a zillion or even half a zillion dollars. I don't want to be stuck with a pair of shoes I MIGHT wear once a year after this grand adventure comes to a close.
So, one more thing to be fascinated about up here in NY - the weather which is the result of a different weather pattern than what I'm used to. At least I'm not having to keep an eye out for tornadoes, and the ragweed is mild rather than virulent. Always a silver lining.
P.S. UPDATE: I bought calf high, waterproof, faux fur lined snow boots with a zipper down the side for easy on/off. WOW! I can't believe it.
