FISCHER – Too hot to pocket

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Over the years I’ve used my column to make some pretty controversial points, but this week I’m going to put to print what may be the most controversial take I’ve ever had.

I’m not looking forward to spring weather.

March is here. The snow is gone. The temps are going up.

Before long we’ll be turning off the thermostat and opening up the windows overnight. Only to close them again a few weeks later to keep the AC in.

To that, I say, “Phooey.”

I’m not saying I’ll be longing for those zero degree days where I question living in a place where the outside air hurts my face, but in general I like the colder times of the year.

I like wearing comfy sweaters and sleeping under a pile of blankets.

I like it being seasonably appropriate to make large crock pots full of soup.

I like walking around with my billowing trench coat and fuzzy hat.

More than anything else though, I like having pockets.

Deep pockets, capable of carrying my car keys, and phone, and pens, notebooks, miscellaneous papers, glasses, business cards, check book, and anything else I may want on my person but not necessarily in my hands. The inner pocket of my trench coat is even big enough that I can use it to safely carry my coffee thermos so long as it’s moderately un-full.

Soon enough though, I’ll have to trade down to a light jacket. Still enough room for keys and a notebook, but not much else.

And eventually summer will raise the temps once again, making it too hot for even a minimal coat. At that point what I carry will be limited to what I can fit in my pants pockets.

Maybe, if I’m lucky, my overshirt of the day will have breast pocket. Of course, anything that ends up in there is immediately at risk of being forgotten about and put through the laundry.

And as I sit down on the notebook in my back pocket on those 80 degree days, with my phone pressed against one leg and my car keys jabbing into the other, I’ll dream of the coming fall, where it will once again be cool enough to bring back the light jacket and, eventually, the trench coat. Starting the cycle anew.

At least for a while. January of 2025 was, globally, the warmest January on record and likely the coldest January we will ever see again.

– Travis Fischer is a news writer for the Charles City Press and doesn’t wanna have to invest in a fanny pack or something.