Hello cold hands.

From the months of October through April I have the ability to strike unknowing folks with a shockingly cold handshake.

At home, I deliver the cold-handed cut as a weapon. No one wants me to "cold hand" them and I know it. But, I do it anyway ... most often I'm unaware of the strike until someone shrieks after the fact.

Anyway, there's a history to this cold-handed thing. It's sort of a family tradition.

My great-grandmother, Nan, was known for her cold-handed touch too. But, she had the greatest comeback which I often borrow.

After Nan would get the "your hands are freezing!" response from some unaware soul, she would respond with "Cold hands. Warm heart."

And that was the truth. Nan had the biggest heart of all. So, if I've inherited her cold hands I'd like to think that I also got a bit of her warm heart.

The subject turned to cold hands just the other evening when my grandma "Momkoonce" was visiting. She too seems to suffer from the cold-handed warm-hearted syndrome. (Just another reason to be thankful for my cold hands.)

Turns out the cold hands, warm heart response has a long history too.

The saying seems to have first been cited in 1902 in V.S. Lean's "Collectanea". According to the book, the saying suggests "a reserved, cool exterior may disguise a kind heart."

But, the saying doesn't stop there.

There's a song called "Cold Hands (Warm Heart)" as well as a book. There are also several TV shows such as "Blue Murder" and "The Outer Limits" that have made reference to the saying.

All I have to say is ... don't let my cold hands be confused with a cold heart.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. -- Helen Keller