As I have mentioned numerous times, I hate the winter. Each year when I’m all up in it, I try very hard to find one or two redeeming qualities about this horrible season to help get me through.
One of my favorite winter treats to myself is a toasty car nap. There is nothing better than the way the sun warms my bones as it comes through the windows.
Winter car naps in Kentucky are elusive. This is because the Bluegrass State is the grayest place on earth from December to March. Seriously, the sun rarely makes an appearance. It is a tough business for us who deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I’m a plant! I need sun!
Thank goodness, the universe does give the occasional gift of a sunny winter day. These days must be seized.
Just recently I was running some errands and the sun was actually out. After my last stop, I got into the car which had been parked in the sun and it felt glorious. It was toasty and warm despite the cold temps outside.
I was not on a tight schedule, so I said, “Fuck it.” I got my travel pillow out of the trunk, reclined my seat back and proceeded to take a nap in the TJ Maxx parking lot. I laid there for about 30 minutes letting the sun beat down on me and channeled my inner turtle on a log. It was delightful.
I have done car naps for as long as I can remember—not just in winter. However, winter car naps are especially gratifying and my favorite.
Every place I have ever worked, I had a parking place mapped out to maximize my napping pleasure during my lunch break.
In the winter, I obviously needed to be parked in the sun for warmth. While in the summer, I had to scope out the perfect shady spot so as to not cook myself. Regardless of the season, I always keep a travel pillow and blanket in my car.
I’m small, so I can get pretty comfortable in a car. When I had SUVs, I used the whole backseat to stretch out and get my relaxation on.
There have been countless times through my working life, a car nap at lunch was all that got me through the day. This was particularly true when my daughter was little and kept me up all night with her teething. Ugh. That was a miserable time.
I love it when I stumble upon a fellow car napper. We can exchange some handy tricks of the trade. I’m also surprised when people tell me they have never had a car nap. Boy, are they missing out on one of life’s simple pleasures.
One winter which had been particularly hard on me, I actually backed my car out of the garage and let it warm up from the sun which had so graciously made an appearance. I then went out and lay in my car for an hour in my driveway. I was in much better spirits after.
At the end of the day, I really am just a turtle who wants a nice warm log to lay upon. Sun is important, y’all. Put on some damn sunscreen and get out there. Your mental health will thank you.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
