My Thursday started with a trip to the Minot AFB. I had several appointments, and hey, I’m used to this cold weather, right?

As I approached the base I was able to watch a B 52 take off. The smoke generated by the takeoff on this -18 degree day was amazing. Quickly my mind slipped into thinking about the Airmen who had to be out on the flight line to get this B 52 into the air when we had double digit below zero temps and wind chills. My thoughts continued, thinking that a flight on a day like today proves to our adversaries that even extreme weather conditions don’t stop the mission(s) at the Minot AFB. What we can, as a community and a nation, say to those Airmen is “thank you”.

Of course, there is a second mission on Minot AFB, that being the 91st Missile Wing. They, too, must contend with the sub-zero temperatures and the blustery conditions. I drove by one of the missile silos in my travels and sure enough, there were vehicles parked at the silo and Airmen were walking around outside. Again, to the Airmen of the 91st, thank you. The missile mission is 24/7, and the mission does not stop because of the weather.

It’s North Dakota
Those of us who have spent a majority of our lives in North Dakota have a bit of a kinship to those who put on their winter gear and go out and “get ‘r done”. Sure, the small grain farming is over, but there were many days when I was a youngster where I would go help my Dad, or a local farmer, complete their missions. My dad was a telephone technician and would do whatever he could to keep the phones to rural farmsteads operating. Wind, snow and ice would cause poles and lines to literally break. Ever set a telephone pole in sub-zero temperatures? It’s a job that wasn’t for the faint of heart.

And then there was the daily feeding of cattle by my farming friends. Things are somewhat better today with the larger pole barns. At least you can get the cattle out of the wind and the worst of the elements. But 20 below zero is a challenge, even with a sheltered area.

What I am leading to is that like the Airmen on base, the farming community of North Dakota has a job to do, and they get it done; in all kinds of weather. We can also appreciate the mission that has to be done each and every day on Minot AFB.

It’s A Challenge
A number of times I have entered into a conversation with someone about being from North Dakota. This time of year, I hear the words “Oh, you’re used to it” when we talk about below zero temps and wind chills. I will somewhat agree that having been a resident we learn how to “dress” and “deal” with extreme weather conditions. But I don’t think you ever get used to it. As a matter of fact, I think the older you get, less apt you are to take on those conditions. There is much to be said for just staying home and staying warm.

I am not talking about hibernation, folks. The lakes cover over with ice, so we go ice fishing, in heated houses if we have access to one. And why stay home when you could join a curling league or watch a hockey game. My kids all learned to snow ski and we had a couple of toboggans that would make for a great day on a local snow covered hill. It was a challenge the first time we did each of these activities, but soon you learned what it took to be successful. And that’s so true of being from North Dakota. You don’t necessarily “get used to it”. Instead, I am going to say that you accept the challenges and overcome them.

Best Kept Secrets
I had a chance to talk to a friend of mine about his battery powered gloves and vest. He said it makes a huge difference when you are outdoors. I have used battery powered heated gloves, and I am convinced that if you keep your hands warm you will stay warm much longer (well except for those of us that don’t have much hair on top of our head-enough said). Next time you are looking for gloves, head to the local hardware store and try on a pair of these gloves and one of the battery powered vests.

Today’s Chuckle
There’s a new after shave that is guaranteed to drive teen-aged girls out of their minds. It smells like a cell phone…