The other day the radio was on in the house and I heard, "Grandpa Climate." I thought for a minute about this and then it hit me. They're talking about me!
I'm a Grandpa and I'm 85 years old. So what was the climate back at the beginning of my time.
Then I thought of my Dad who was born in 1912? Oh , there's my Grandpa who was born in 1864 ? And then I thought back to my Great Grandpa who was born in 1840.
What was the climate like when these men were living? 180 years ago the common folks probably didn't have a thermometer. Information on climate was anecdotal. There would be some information about climate but it wouldn't be scientific. Both my grandparents could read. They used the Russian Cyrillic script. I'm not sure how much they could write. So information on climate at that time would be limited. I don't know if there is any of Grandpa or Grandma's writing left.
I have often told you about my time as a child and the great outdoors. It was very, very different than today. About 50% of the land was not developed. When I was a kid in the late 40's Canada's population was less than 10 000 000 . This meant that much less carbon was produced. Global warming was probably not taking place. It seemed as if when winter came it stayed winter until spring. I remember getting what we called mild spells, but I don't remember snow thawing in the winter time like it does now. .
So I hope the term Grandpa climate makes people think about how much our climate has changed and that people will start to contribute to not letting the earth's temperature increase.
If you're a grandma or grandpa, what do you remember about climate?
It is a good phrase.
ReplyDeleteI remember winters with proper snow, even in the south of England where we were at the time..but even then they started to be seen as special....in the early 60s..then thirty years ago Summer still seemed to be summer but gradually got wetter and wetter...
Climate has changed noticeably for you.
DeleteThat's an interesting term. Certainly the climate has changed noticeably in my lifetime. Winters were colder and lasted longer. In my perhaps faulty memory one could rely on summers being warm. Now, all our seasons blend into almost one, with blips of extremes.
ReplyDeleteI like the term you use, "blips of extreme." It's just climate change.
DeleteI grew up in Texas. I remember hot summers and mild winters. We had cold snaps in the winter, of course, with the occasional snow and ice. When it did snow, I have to smile, remembering how Texas drivers had no clue. There was a slight hill on a street near my home and folks would be stuck, spinning their tires, going nowhere on that hill. The kids would go out and watch … it was hilarious. 😊
ReplyDeleteThey just did not have the proper tires. I hope you pushed the poor souls!
DeleteRed, You’re right, they didn’t have the right kind of tires. They also didn’t have much, if any, experience driving on ice/snow. As I recall it, we (the kids) would push anyone who asked for help. For those who spun their tires until they smoked … 😊… we stayed on the side of the street … that was just pure entertainment.
DeleteI remember moving from Montreal to Toronto in 1962 I was surprised that Toronto was much less wintry.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that Toronto had real winters but I guess not.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI do not remember the weather when I was a kid. I think we did have one bad snow storm, the snow was probably past my knees. This winter has been very cold, the temperatures are below normal for a longer period of time. The previous two winters were mild, very little rain or snow. Take care, Happy Friday! Wishing you a great weekend.
You are having some extremes . Same here.
DeleteI'm 80. I can remember the Great Snow of 1947 (in the UK). My memory tells me that summers were longer and hotter and 'proper summers'. These days there is no such thing for me as a 'proper summer'. However I was born and brought up in Liverpool in the middle of England. For the last 50 years though (ie 5/8thd of my life) I've lived in the far North West of Scotland. So any comparison I make is probably not a very accurate indicator of climate change.
ReplyDeleteIt's the changes that make the differences. Long warm summers. You don't get them now.
DeleteI lived in California and the climate was mild, but now those fires have change everything in southern California.
ReplyDeleteAgain it's a matter of extremes.
DeleteThings are certainly changing. Spring comes earlier than ever before and some winters here in northern England we hardly get any snow or frost at all. I call them green winters. Mind you, according to The Great One*, Lord of the Earth and Soothsayer Extraordinaire, climate change is just a myth invented by woke commies like you and me.
ReplyDelete*= Trumpus Dumpus.
There's a group that has been recording first blooming of various flowers. In Switzerland dandelions bloom all year now.
DeleteI remember that we used to enjoy sledding and ice skating a lot when I was a girl. We come in with rosy cheeks and my Mom would give us hot cocoa to warm us up! Happy memories!
ReplyDeleteThose were better days with lots of snow.
DeleteBeautiful words full of wisdom dear Red
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about grandpa climate and how your grandfather and great grandfather would check climate.
This post reminds me of my childhood days when farmers would stick with radio to keep check on climate
The issue of rising temperatures can be solved when people with power would think and take practical steps regarding it instead just verbal solutions
It takes more than lip service to change things.
DeleteI'm 80, and I remember snow and rain and ice on puddles and dust and heat of summer, and mud, mud, mud on our little farm in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteThe seasons certainly seemed to have a beginning and end.
DeleteWinter here this year this far is hovering around zero. Last year was our warmest year ever. I fear for the children and what the climate will be.
ReplyDeleteI recall so much snow and very cold temperatures and many winter blizzards and spring rains...it doesn't rain like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe changes are really alarming.
ReplyDeleteSince I was born and raised in Hawaii, I don't think I noticed the climate much. I don't think I complained much back then about how hot it was though. I do now. It just feels warmer, but it could just be my imagination. One thing we're noticing is the sea level rise and our shorelines eroding.
ReplyDelete"Grandpa Climate" -- what a funny phrase. My mom always talked about how my grandfather, living in Massachusetts, had these huge greatcoats that he would wear outside his clothes in the winter. And you never see anyone wearing anything like that now. Of course, fabric technology is better so it's probably possible to have warmer coats that are also smaller and lighter. The demise of the greatcoat may not all be down to climate change.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to think about the climate and all of its changes. I grew up in New England where the winters were long and cold but now they seem to have an occasional storm here and there and the winters don't last as long.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that phrase before. Our rainiest time of year has brought almost zero rain this January, it is scary.
ReplyDeleteI grew up not too far from you and at roughly the same time so our memories are probably about the same. I remember ice skating to school on the frozen streets. And I remember going skating at the rink across the street from my home and playing outside in the snow for hours at a time when it got down to 20 degrees below zero (F.). Of course I was a kid then, like you, and probably didn't know any better!
ReplyDeleteWell put.
ReplyDelete