When I was entering Walmart the other day, I walked past a middle-aged woman wrapped up in a fluffy jacket. She had her head down and was walking quickly, even though the ground was slushy. We exchanged tight-lipped smiles as we passed. I realized, in that moment, that I was walking just like her. Minnesotans are bred tough--we come from a state that can hit 100 degrees on a July day and -30 degrees on a cold one. We're all pretty alike when it comes to dealing with the bitter winds of winter. Only Minnesotans know these struggles.
1. Zip up your jacket, put your head down, and hustle.
The only way to get out of the cold is to get through it. Winter calls for speed-walking to increase blood flow (and body temp) and get you to your destination twice as fast. This is how most Minnesotans walk when crossing a parking lot, knowing that warmth is just a few feet away.
2. We Minnesotans avoid watching the news when it broadcasts "blizzard" conditions in the south.
In Florida, a three-inch snowfall constitutes a snow day. In Minnesota, it's a light dusting. Watching news coverage of freeways in the south is laughable. Just a couple of inches of snow sends drivers into the ditch and has weathermen saying "Stay indoors, the road conditions are terrible." Ha, try driving in Minnesota during January.
3. And don't even get us started on the southerners complaining about 40-degree weather.
I recently saw a Snapchat video of a Floridian shivering as she walked to her car. The temperature was 44 degrees. To me, 44 degrees is shorts weather. I guess that's what happens when you live in a state that can be 44 below zero.
4. We walk on ice so often that we don't even flinch.
All of Minnesota becomes a glorified ice rink in the winter months. I used to be terrified of walking and driving on ice, but I'm used to it now. I see people all the time who slide on the ice and just keep on going. I call that #MinnesotaStrong.
5. Only in Minnesota do we order iced coffee when it's below zero.
You would think the months November through March would be full of hot cider and warm coffee. Wrong. I see dozens of people carrying iced coffee on a daily basis. Our body is so accustomed to the freezing temps that drinking an iced coffee doesn't phase us.
6. *19 degrees out.* "Wow, it's warm!"
As long as it's above zero, it's a good day. When winter first starts, 19 degrees sends us running for our warmest jacket. After a few months of negative temperatures, 19 degrees feels like a heat wave.
7. As soon as it's above freezing, we stop wearing our jackets.
32 degrees is a peace offering in Minnesota. If the snow is melting, it's officially time to switch to a lighter jacket--or no jacket at all. Days above freezing are few and far between during winter, so when we experience one, we go all-out.8. We don't really have an answer when asked: "Why do you live somewhere so cold?"
Truthfully, I'm not sure what to say when someone asks why I choose to live in a state that's so cold. You would think these brutal winters would make me want to pack my bags and buy a one-way plane ticket but, for some reason, they don't. There's something magical about a fresh snowfall and being able to see your breath when you walk to class. I might fantasize about moving to the Caribbean, but I know deep-down that I will continue to brave many more Minnesota winters.
9. We leave before our car has been fully scraped off and defrosted.
In frigid temps, it takes quite awhile for all of the car windows to be scraped, defrosted, and have prime visibility. Ain't nobody got time for that. It's pretty common to see cars driving around with only a small circle of clean windshield. Eventually, the car's windows will defrost themselves. Until then, Minnesotans just squint and hope we don't hit anything.
10. Above all, we impatiently wait for spring.
The only thing that gets us through the Minnesota winter is the promise of spring. We deal with frigid temps, blizzards, and icy roads because we know that soon we will be basking in 65-degree weather. It's all worth it when spring rolls around. We enjoy the sunny days because we know that soon it will be winter, and we'll have to survive it all over again.
How many can you relate to?
8-10 -- You're a true Minnesotan!
5-7 -- Meh. You're probably from the midwest. Iowa maybe?
2-4 -- You're definitely not a Minnesotan. Buy a plane ticket and pay us a visit.
0-1 -- Uff da! You must be from the south. Why did you even click on this article?
