Something about the weather

[days_unfolding]

While I was lurking journals today, I saw a reference to a big winter storm that hit Chicago and Detroit. Given that's where my family lives, I was disturbed, although I know that the media tends to overreact to winter storms. I checked online, and the storm didn't sound so bad, although Detroit is in for the snow/ice/rain mix that can be really nasty. I popped off an e-mail to my dad (in Chicago), and called my mom (in Detroit) tonight.

I couldn't reach either of them. I'm more worried about my mom because her answering machine didn't answer. I tried calling again, and the call went into limbo for a while, and then I heard "if you'd like to make a call, please hang up...." I'm sure that she's okay though. She's lived in the Midwest for a lot longer than I did, and knows what to do in case of a power failure, etc.

The Chicago Tribune (local paper) asked for this storm a few days ago:

Yes, we are calling on the Powers That Be to unleash a real Chicago winter, spiked with a brutal blizzard, an extended spell of subzero temperatures, the symphonic howl of winds off the lake.

It went on to discuss the character-building benefits of winter:

Chicago without dramatic winters is unimaginable. Without winter, we're no tougher than the sun-spoiled residents of San Diego. More important, if we haven't suffered through winter, as one native recently remarked, there's no way we can appreciate spring.

I heard about the character-building thing during the whole time I was in Chicago. I think that most snow-belt cities kind of look down their noses at cities in the sun-belt. However, I'm not sure that the weather really builds character. What it does build is raw stubbornness. No true Chicagoans ever let the weather stop them from doing something. I remember one time when the buses stopped running because of snow, so I walked the two miles to high school in the snow. (Sounds like something that you'd tell your kids, doesn't it? "In my day....") I started college in January, and we were having a cold snap of -20F, with a wind chill of -40F. I wanted to explore, damn it, so I went out to check out the campus, stores, and restaurants. Yes, it was very, very cold.

When I first moved to California, I freaked out the native Californians because I was completely unphased by rain. I walked a lot, and when it rained, I'd grab my umbrella and go. I remember getting into conversations with my colleagues that went something like this: "Where are you going?" <I'd explain where I was going.> "But it's raining." "I know. I have my umbrella." "But it's raining."

Lately, when I need to go to the grocery store, and it's raining, I'll see if I can hold out an extra day. Gotta wonder what has changed me. It's strange how much of the weather is in our heads.

Comments

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

I still go walking in the rain. But in Minnesota, we like to go out driving as soon as a blizzard started, just to see how far we could get before we got stuck and had to wait for a plow to come along ;)

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

You go walking in the rain without an umbrella, don't you? That impresses me.

You took a bit of a risk driving out in a blizzard-;) Though I suppose it probably wasn't that cold (in snow-belt terms) if it was snowing hard.

Re:

[bandicoot.livejournal.com]

I go walking in the rain in a rainsuit ;)

Unless I'm doing running around, and then it's either an umbrella or a big rain hat.

Blizzard driving wasn't hazardous, but you could get cold and wet if you didn't pick areas that were going to get prompt attention from the snow plows ;)

The Pioneer Spirit.....

[workinprogress.livejournal.com]

.....is alive and well in Detroit. Your riff on midwest winter weather and the Midwest mindset about it is right on. It was miserable here in Detroit on Thursday, with unplowed roads, skidding cars, and icy patches but, since the Agency had not closed down, I never really considered not going into the office. It took me more than twice as long to get there, but no mere hellacious weather was going to stop me from doing what I decided to do! Only some of us were intrepid enough to make it in and, I must admit, I basked in a sense of smug, self-righteous virtue and superiority all day!

Re: The Pioneer Spirit.....

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

LOL....Good to hear from you! Hope that you can stay out of the yuck this weekend.

I was going to call with some new news, but it looks like you found the entry about it. I might call anyway, just 'cause.