This morning when we woke up to leave on our trip to Hawaii, it was -13 below zero. Windchill made the “feels like” temperature -30 degrees. These are the days I actually love to be a Minnesotan.
There is a certain amount of chutzpah that is required to live in these temperatures. There are things we know and do that would never even occur to people in warmer climates. We know that if we get a heavy wet snow (as we did a few days ago) on a warm day, that we should wait for the temperature to drop before we snow blow or shovel (if possible). As it gets colder, moisture leaves the snow lighter and easier to manipulate.
We know that a banana left outside at this temperature can be used as a hammer and that bubbles blown outside will freeze. Likewise, when it’s really cold, the exhaust from cars will actually freeze to the road when sitting in traffic causing true black ice – ice invisible to the naked eye, but very, very slippery.
We plug in our cars if we park outside, or go out to start them periodically. We rarely let the gas tank get less than half full as the cars will start sluggishly.
Blinds and curtains are best closed to keep out the cold when it’s dark, but close them too far and the windows will ice over.
But, as I sat on flight, ready for our trip to Hawaii to celebrate our 20th anniversary, what I love most about living in Minnesota in the winter is the fact that I can truly appreciate getting away to somewhere warm. Aloha!
