The life lessons I learned from frigid Friday night football games

I still play my clarinet, but I won't march outside in cool temperatures now

Written by Mary Lott | May 20, 2026

A performance that stands out in my musical career is the Auburn High School versus Opelika High School football game of Nov. 14, 1969. It’s not the marching band’s musical skill that I recall, but that night’s extremely low temperatures.

All our instruments were affected. A trombone player found that his outer slide had frozen to the inner slide between songs. The metal in the brass instruments contracted, making it impossible to remain in tune. Everyone’s fingers became stiff and turned blue.

At practice, our band director gave us advice on keeping warm. We put on layers of long-handle underwear and more layers of other clothing. He also suggested we line our uniforms with newspaper, which acts as an excellent, makeshift thermal insulator. The dense paper traps still air within its fibers, slowing heat loss and effectively blocking icy winds from penetrating your jacket.

Even with the best preparation, the cold insidiously crept into both instruments and fingers to wreak havoc on what was otherwise a well-prepared presentation.

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CAD and clarinets

For most people, cold exposure ends when they step inside. But for those of us with cold agglutinin disease (CAD), the effects linger far longer. Since cold exposure results in hemolysis, which is the destruction and elimination of red blood cells, and anemia, I go to great lengths to avoid temperatures lower than 65 F (18 C).

I still play my clarinet, but I would never consider marching outside in cool temperatures now. Even though I’m not preparing for a performance, I frequently check the expected temperatures. I keep sweaters in my car so I can go to grocery stores and restaurants without ill effects.

When I prepared for an autumn performance, I checked the weather forecast first and prepared a thermos of hot chocolate. During the game, I would blow warm air through my clarinet in a futile attempt to keep the instrument warm. When I wasn’t playing, I would tuck it into the jacket of my uniform. On that Friday night in 1969, nothing actually succeeded in fully keeping us warm.

There is more protection available against cold temperatures nowadays. There are electrified, battery-operated socks and gloves, and jackets of down or dense synthetics that can be electrified with wires to provide warmth in subzero temperatures.

CADdies must also be careful with the air they breathe. In my survival box in my car, I have scarves and chemical hand warmers. I wrap the scarves around the hand warmers and fasten them over my mouth and nose. Since the surface area of our lungs is equivalent to the surface area of a tennis court, breathing cold air can do a lot of damage via the exposed capillaries.

More than music

These are just some of the everyday precautions I’ve learned over the years – lessons that trace straight back to the wisdom my high school band director shared with us on freezing Friday nights.

This week, as we celebrate National Band Director’s Day on May 20, I want to recognize the valuable contribution these teachers make to their students. Band directors do so much more than teach music. They communicate the value of a well-developed skill, encourage students to work both independently and to be part of a cohesive group. They demonstrate worth to teenagers who may be questioning their own.

Little did I realize the lesson of cold weather survival taught by my high school band director would be so valuable to me as I deal with CAD.

Note: Cold Agglutinin Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cold Agglutinin Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cold agglutinin disease.

Mary Lott

About the Author

is a southern girl from Auburn, AL, living in Sentani, Papua, Indonesia, where she and her husband have worked for almost 30 years. She has taught sixth grade to missionary kids. Now, she designs websites, gardens, SCUBA dives as often as possible, and uses a motorcycle as her primary mode of transport. Their three kids have grown, but this gap is filled by two Papuan boys from one of the island’s interior villages. Mary is a surrogate “mom” while the boys attend a private school in town. Since her diagnosis at age 63, Mary juggles life and living at her home, “Ivy Manor East.”