MARILYN HAGERTY: Sailing serenely into 2014

Dear Shirley,

Unless I had read the lunch menus from Karen Pickett of East Grand Forks Schools, I would not have known this:

January comes from the Latin word ianua meaning door. It is named after the god of the doorway, Janus (Ianuarious).

And so we are sailing serenely into a new year. It's getting so that a 20 below reading is just another cold day. We don't linger long on the street corners to talk about what else is new. When it gets really cold, the house thumps.

I can just hear all the snowbirds hanging out on golf courses in Arizona and congratulating themselves for finding the sunshine in the south this winter. Those who chose Florida don't mind being down in the land of grapefruit and ocean breezes. I know we have snowbirds floating around in Texas and over in California.

Here in Grand Forks, the dogs are out and back in the house in a flash. Dot.Com, my Dachshund, doesn't give a rip to go chasing rabbits or squirrels.

She has her favorite spot beside a heat register.

I keep a teakettle of water simmering on the stove because the house gets so dry. They say a person can get dehydrated in this extreme cold weather. And I am down to my warmest jacket with lining and a hood. If that doesn't work, I will buy a plane ticket to Tucson and camp out on your doorstep!

But I wouldn't want to miss the basketball and hockey games at UND this winter. I like to take off and walk in the Alerus or the shopping malls. There are fitness centers all over town where you can try to right the wrong that was done during the holidays.

Tonight, there's a rare doubleheader basketball game at UND. The men and women's teams will be playing teams from Southern Utah. I love watching Madi Buck zip up and down the floor. Then there's Emily Evers, who got her start at Red River High School. Jamal Webb is one of my favorites on the men's team, Shirley. And Troy Huff makes some amazing plays.

The schools are up and running around here today. Classes will start again Jan. 13 at UND after the winter break.

Love from your sister Marilyn wondering how the pioneers managed to make their way through long winters as they settled this northern land.

P.S. One person's pain is another's pleasure. Or something. Anyway, I have been frequenting 5 Star Collision ever since I knocked the right rear view mirror off while backing out of the garage. The repair shops have been busy fixing up damage done in this cold and slippery weather. They say the bumpers are plastic and shatter in extreme cold weather. In Grand Forks there are seven collision repair places.

Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.