Gloves

Today was too cold for the lightweight fleece gloves that I usually wear, so I went in search of a warmer pair.  What a nice surprise to find the lambswool/angora gloves that I bought in Iceland back in March!  (I don't think I'm the only one who's ever purchased something off-season, stored it away somewhere, and was surprised to find it months later.  Admit it . . . you've done this, too.)

The price tag tells me I paid 2,680 krona for these gloves.  Using an online money conversion calculator, I either paid two cents for these gloves or $21.67.  We'll go with the latter, and it's still a good deal.  But it isn't about the bargain.  I know that every time I put these gloves on this winter (which looks to be often), I will think fondly of that girlfriend vacation in Iceland last spring.  And that, to me, is the reason to purchase at least one thing from the places one visits.  I can't wait until someone says, "Hey, I like your gloves!" and I can say, "Oh, these?  I picked them up in Iceland last year."

Yeah, well, that's not going to happen.  The gloves are pretty nondescript.

But are they ever soft and warm!  Finding them today made the impending winter seem less frigid.  Just a little bit.  Okay, not at all.  I'm lying.  I'm still dreading the cold.

But at least when I put on my Icelandic gloves to go out and shovel the snow, my heart will be warmed by the memory of a wonderful adventure full of geysers and waterfalls and Northern Lights and Vikings and laughter.  And wine.  Never forget the wine.

All good things with which to fall in love.