Remember those cold winter days when you had to walk to school in the face of a wind that seemed to cut right through your wool coat? Perhaps you were the young person who, even with gloves on, spent the entire day ice skating on a frozen pond or building snow forts. For those of us who were born in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, enduring the bitter cold of winter was a common occurrence. Using a charcoal hand warmer was another unique way to stay warm.
Charcoal warmers were a necessity for the winter months before disposable heat packs and battery-operated warmers were introduced to the market. For those who were outdoors a lot, they were quite useful.
These hand warmers were designed to be comfortable, not only to keep your hands warm. You would place a bit of charcoal inside a metal container lined with felt, slide it inside your pocket, and allow the heat to disperse. Those bitterly cold winter days were somewhat more tolerable thanks to this tiny device.
Though its technology may look antiquated now, it was a very effective system. The felt lining kept you out of direct heat while letting warmth slowly seep through the metal container, which was intelligently made to store charcoal sticks that burned constantly. The charcoal would not burn out too quickly because of the airflow at the back, and it would last for hours.
Consider it a tiny, reusable, and effective furnace for your hands. Disposable goods weren’t very popular back then. These durable hand warmers were treasured items that were handed down through the generations.
Hand warmers were a need back then, not an extravagance. Winters appeared more severe, but that didn’t stop people from working or going outside when it got chilly. The bitter cold was a little easier to bear if you were lucky enough to have one of these heaters. The charcoal hand warmer in your pocket was a silent ally against the cold, whether you were hunting, fishing, or just doing errands.
Our parents and grandparents also found these warmers to be extremely helpful during their arduous, chilly workdays. These devices provide much-needed respite prior to the widespread or dependable use of contemporary heating systems.
It makes me grin to think of these little instruments. They stood for preparedness and the will to simplify things, even if it meant concentrating on little pleasures. They were passed down through the generations, lent to friends in need, and valued for their warmth at all times.
It brings back happy memories of a charcoal hand warmer providing consistent warmth when you most needed it. It’s evidence of human ingenuity and tenacity as well as the pleasures of basic comfort in the face of bitter cold.
Kelly Clarkson and her daughter light up Vegas with a heartfelt duet
Las Vegas recently experienced a magical evening when Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson was joined on stage by her children River Rose and Remington during her residency performance. The spotlight was shared as nine-year-old River and seven-year-old Remington chose their own songs to perform alongside their famous mother.
Initially shy, River harmonized beautifully with Clarkson on a touching rendition of “Heartbeat Song”, a song that has special meaning for both of them. During the performance of “Whole Lotta Woman”, Remington wowed the audience with his lively dance performance.
Clarkson expressed her joy on Twitter that her children got to see her at the Bakkt Theater, Planet Hollywood. The family’s appearance brought an electric energy to the venue and created a heartfelt moment of joy and togetherness.
In her tweets, Clarkson reflected on the great pride and joy she feels for her children, sharing that they “will always have my whole heart”. The enthusiastic response from the audience made the evening unforgettable for everyone present and underlined the deep bond between the renowned artist and her family.
Check out the video below to relive this heartwarming moment from Kelly Clarkson’s Las Vegas show, where she and her children River Rose and Remington celebrated music, family and love together.
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