Pure deliciousness, sitting here like I used to on Tuesdays, the morning just for me. The weather has allowed me to feel no guilt about skipping the gym, or even re-scheduling my hair appointment (which I was really looking forward to) since I have a little British car that won't start if I leave it out in the cold for as long as it takes me to have my hair colored, cut, and styled. Yes, we live in the area dubbed the "Polar Vortex" and right now the temp is -14 with wind chills at -36. Now, for this California girl, I have come to appreciate the truth in the cliche, "bone-chilling cold" as I literally could feel my bones ache from the bitter cold. The wind feels like millions of tiny knives stabbing you. The sound of the wind howling is so spooky and ominous; laying in bed last night listening to it; it reminded me of the Dementors in Harry Potter.
It's so bad, all the schools are closed for a second day. Grocery stores are closing early, even the malls. Reports of pipes freezing (not us thankfully!) and my friend Erika's furnace froze. We are just riding it out, keeping our fingers crossed we don't have those problems. I told my family that preparing to go out in this cold seemed like how soldiers might feel going out to battle: You put on all your protective gear. Gloves, earmuffs, hat, scarf (choosing the warm ones, not the scarves you wear as accessories), three layers of shirts/sweater, two layers on your legs (yoga pants under jeans or pantyhose), your biggest, full-length parka. If you're going to work, you also have your coffee and your breakfast, your purse, and your keys. And then it's GO!!!!! You hurtle yourself out the door with breakneck speed, as if you are throwing yourself headfirst out of an airplane. You get in your freezing-cold car, and hope it starts. This is where I let out my first "Godddammit!!!" You don't turn on your heater till you see that little needle go up at least part way because the freezing cold air will cause you to say a second "Goddammit". I think our dog uttered his first "Godddammit!" yesterday--I put on his protective windbreaker/sweater and he had been sitting by the back door needing to go out. My husband opened the door, and he ran out, and I swear I heard him say, "FUCK THIS SHIT!!!" and turned around and ran right back in! Poor doggie. Imagine if YOU had to pee and poop outside with -36 degree temps!!!
It's so funny--I remember watching, "Fargo" from the warmth and comfort of my California living room many years ago and I remember saying to my husband who was watching with me, "Why do they drive around with their huge jackets on?" I thought it looked so stupid. Who drives around wearing a jacket? I DO!!!!! Yes, you can't take your jacket off just cuz you are in your car. Like I said, your car has been sitting either in your freezing cold garage (the temp in our garage yesterday was 22) or below freezing in the parking lot. The only thing I take off when I get in the car are the earmuffs. Sometimes. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm wearing them I'm shivering so much. Good thing they're cute on me. LOL
I never wanted to live in a place that got this cold. I remember seeing the news about all the snowstorms; people shoveling driveways, people walking with that haggard, leaning-into-the-wind type of body angle, braving the bitter wind. I always looked at this and thought, "why do these people put up with that?? WHY DON'T THEY MOVE????" And here I am now, one of them.
I think sometimes we are just used to what we are used to. The cold and snow, for the most part, doesn't stop anyone here. The gym was open yesterday (I was told the 5:30 am spin class was full!) Yes, they closed the schools and some businesses, but it's unusual. And it's smart. But for the most part, people just keep going. For me, it did take several winters to get it. This is our 4th winter here, and I'm getting to be a pro, except where driving is concerned. I still freak out driving here. I have been driving our SUV because I feel safer in it. I feel way to vulnerable in my Mini Cooper. My hubby drove her yesterday and she was not happy. She refused to start, angry she was left out in the cold all day and she let him have it. Then she relented, and said, "Ok, have you learned your lesson now? Don't do this to me again" and she slowly started. Today I'm letting her stay in the garage. It's the best I can do. I won't insult her and make her sit out again while I get all dolled up at the hair salon because I just know she'll make me pay.
It doesn't help when people who know we're from California ask me, "So, how are you liking the cold eh??" People here say "eh". I have started to say "eh". Like the woman in "Fargo". It's so annoying and I don't even realize I'm saying it. Thankfully my daughter brings it to my attention immediately and chastises me for my gradual inclusion of Wisconsin dialect. I can't help it. I don't hear my Orange County accent anymore. And I'll be here at least 3 more years so God knows how horrible I'll be talking by the time I'm ready to cash in my ice chips and bail out of here!
What's so funny is, I see people wrinkling their noses at people who live in warm climates. It's like, "wusses!!!" People here are so hardy. They really are. Like I said, they don't let the cold stop them. And when summer comes?? They really embrace every single warm day. It is true that when you live where it's nice all the time, you almost don't really appreciate it since you know the next day will be the same way. You grunt and groan when its in the 60's as being too cold to go for a run or whatever.
I do get that there is something biologically different about people who live in warm climates vs. those of us that don't. I have heard that your blood actually thickens to adapt to the colder temps. That makes perfect sense, because when it's in the 50's here, hell, when it's sunny and in the 30's or 40's, we leave our jackets home. No gloves or hats or earmuffs for us. It's like summer. And I know that when you live in California, 55 is fucking freezing. I remember going to the annual Christmas parade in Reedley the first week of December, and we'd be so bundled up. We had blankets and gloves and hats, and we'd get hot chocolate to warm up with.
I really wish people had more compassion for one another. I wish people would realize that Californians aren't "wusses" for being cold when it's in the 50's and that Californians wouldn't think Wisconsonites are "crazy" for living where it gets 32 below zero. There's no perfect place for everyone. Everywhere you live, there are good and bad reasons to be there. And if you're unhappy where you are, MOVE!!!!! No one is making you stay.
No, not in a million years did I ever think I'd be living where hell actually freezes over. But my husband's job brought us here, and we are overall very happy living here. The schools are amazing, and we do make the most of every season. My daughter and I went sledding in our backyard. And we made a snowblob (the snow was too fluffy to make a real snowman so we called him a "snowblob"). I've taken a zillion pictures of snow-covered everything from our mailbox to tree-limbs. There are challenges with the cold yes, just like living where it's over 100 degrees in summer. There's such beauty in seeing everything completely white and still. I honestly don't miss 100+ temps all summer long. Too hot for me. Our electric bill was $1100 a month trying to keep us cool. Here the highest it's ever been is $600 as heating costs rise in the winter. We rarely use our AC. It's a trade-off. There's always a trade-off.
I've learned I'm much tougher than I thought I was, and that this old dog can really learn new tricks. You Californians have no idea what it's like to push an icy grocery cart that burns your fingers (if you are stupid enough to have forgotten your gloves) out to your car and unload a week's worth of groceries in a wind chill of negative 32 (yes, I've done it). Or getting gas and being so cold that the few seconds waiting for the pump to take your pin number and gas selection has you uttering, "Goddammit hurry up!!!!" so you can hurtle yourself back into the safety of your car. Realizing that walking safely from said car to any building is fraught with challenges. I see why people slip and die just walking out their front door, getting their mail, or just going down a few steps. Black ice is nothing to laugh about. Not to mention driving in a blinding snowstorm, or wondering if the car behind you will ram into you or actually stop.
And neither is sitting there watching your little one's soccer or Little League game when it's 108. AGAIN. The umbrella you brought with you keeps falling over and the snack stand only has warm water. UGH. And your car is at least 1000 degrees after sitting there and your AC doesn't kick in until your just about home. You think you will burst into flames. And of course, the electric bill. I don't miss that at all. And of course, we could argue "dry heat vs. humid heat" till the cows come home. Check out the dangers of heat waves at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
I do miss our old house, and our pool, and all the splashing and BBQ-ing and all my friends. I miss that life so much, especially when I'm wrestling the groceries with gloved-hands and my boots that I wear so I don't slip on the ice-covered parking lot. Those were great times. And yes, I do plan on moving back to California someday; my family is still there and I miss them.
But my kids are here, my life is here, and for now, I am making the best of being here. Staying safe in the cold is a challenge, just like staying safe in extreme heat is a challenge. We are where we are because we made choices to be where we are, and having someone make fun of us for those choices is really not very nice.
And we are allowed to complain about it sometimes. I am just as guilty as the next person when I Facebook comment, "You think that's cold??" to someone who's complaining about it being cold at 55. I promise to try not to do that anymore. What's cold to you and what's cold to me are two completely different experiences. You think you'd die if you had to be here for even a second and you know what??? If you were visiting, you would be miserable. But give it a couple years of acclimation, and you'd be fine.
Just like me.
