Sloan - "Snowsuit Sound" [buy]

Elevator to Hell - "Forward to Snow" [buy]

When I was a kid I loved getting bundled the heck up. Snowpants and boots, two pairs of socks, scarf, mittens, plus a balaclava or a toque with a gigantic pompom. I walked around feeling like an astronaut, impervious to the elements of space. Staring down at my clunky boots, listening to the nylon swish of my snowpants rubbing against each other.

One winter on the news there was a story about a guy, they showed him - long hair and a moustache - who'd lost a toe to frostbite when he played street hockey wearing jeans and tennis shoes in minus 40. Not cool, my ten-year old self decreed. Not cool at all!

At recess, I used to walk out to the far corner of the schoolyard and just plunk myself down in the snow. I'd stare up at the clouds and ponder the mysteries of the universe. I was a weird kid. But I was normal, too, and was happy to chuck snowballs or do that trick where you ask another kid "Did you hear what happened in Montreal last night?" and when they didn't you said "The lights went out!" and pulled their toque down over their face.

So I was a little philosopher and had my cruelty, as every child must.

What did I think about while lying alone in the back field, staring up at the grey midwinter sky? Who knows. Did I do it because I had no friends? No, I had friends, I just liked lying in the snow - I didn't make snow angels or anything.

It was quiet, peaceful. It was cold out, but I was warm.

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