Rural

My fingers have lost any sense of feeling   beyond a biting ache that radiates with an intense and unrelenting reminder to put my gloves back on. I comply quickly...but not before slipping my cell phone into my pocket... So much for my new keep your hands warm in the freezing temperatures gloves that I'm test driving. Breath freezes into small frosty patches as I exhale through the knitted scarf wrapped around my face, frilly pink fronds from its yarn waving with delight as the warm air moves around my head. Shivering, my shaking hand makes it way back into my jacket pocket, the aching bite temporarily stops, I grab my cell phone once again....aim, focus, and shoot as the snowflakes fall around me. Despite this being a backcountry road there are still vehicles passing by, faces peering out the side windows, curious as to why someone would willingly stop their vehicle and get out for anything other than an emergency or to pick up their mail.... It'