Counting blessings with chattering teeth

The snowy view outside the house during a historic cold spell.

The historic cold weather in the Midwest -- most particularly in my home state of Iowa -- reminded me about growing up in Minnesota.
According to the National Weather Service in Scott County, Iowa, the high today is -15 degrees Farenheit, with a low of -29 degrees. We are on the national news and there are stories in the newspaper of how part of the Polar Vortex has broken off and settled over the Lower 48 States, including Iowa and Minnesota.
Radio commentators mention these are the coldest temperatures in several decades, not seen since 1982, for example. Residents who are Millennials have never experienced such cold weather.
That's not the case of a Baby Boomer born in Minneapolis. One time was when I was about 9 years old I went skating with my sisters and neighbor kids, and we all stayed out for hours on the rink in subzero weather. We finally went home and Mom told me to take a bath. That warm bath hurt; I still remember how surprised I was at the color of my skin. In the winter!
A few years later, I got the same sensation when skiing too long.
With this background, I wonder exactly why I'm so reluctant to go outdoors. When the high temperatures are below zero, however, it's time to pause and think, before venturing out.
Sitting wrapped in a blanket, on a second blanket, I find myself counting my blessings that I do have a warm place to live, with a reliable furnace. I write in a window-filled room with a view of little birds, fluffed up in the cold, eating at the feeders.
The following weather is what's expected, according to forecast.weather.gov:
Tonight
Mostly clear with a low around -29. Wind chill values as low as -45. West wind, 5-10 m.p.h.
Thursday
Snow likely after noon. Increasing clouds and cold, with a nigh near 2. Wind chill values as low as -25. Light and variable wind becoming east, 5-10 m.p.h. In the morning Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

In Minneapois, a low of -29 is also expected tonight.

Snow is also piled on the deck; the bird feeder is at the left, rear side.