A Question for the Snow-Bound
Comfortably miserable. Yes, that about sums it up. The wind chill is a meager 4 degrees outside, the wind is howling and beating my truck around. But inside, I am running the heat and relaxing with a cup of coffee, some off-brand cookies, and a Bill Buckley book. I'm comfortable amidst the misery, which I might as well be since the road and weather conditions have me "stuck like chuck" (to use my daughter's favorite phrase), at this little gas station.
But watching the snow blow by, the cars slip and slide, the people lower their heads and lean into powerful gusts of blowing snow, I keep asking myself why? The people here are friendly. They offer a smile and a greeting to this stranger. But I keep hearing the words that Jeff Dunham's ventriloquist character Walter offered to a Wisconsin audience during February: "Hellooooo. The borders are open! You can leave!"
So to folks like Duane, or James Lileks, and any number of warm hearted people who don't just travel through these conditions but actually live and thrive in them: How do you do it? And why do so many people choose to do so in weather so cold that hurts?
- Comment (35)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments:
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
As a consultant, my vehicle is all-wheel drive with anti-lock breaks and I keep a fleece blanket, 2-3 days of food, hand warmers, and all the usual auto fluids in the back. If I don't show I don't get paid. When I have to go I go. The good news is, as a consultant, often a client will let me work from the house, especially if conditions are iffy.
The prep is also useful when I go on winter camp outs with the scouts. Nothing like pitching a tent in a driving snowstorm with a wind chill of zero at 2 AM to remind you that you are no longer an adolescent. The scrambled eggs and sausage the next morning takes on a primordial dimension. Just need to get the hands working again.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Well, Sisyphus, that makes sense. When I was in Korea, I went everywhere by foot, and it would get so cold I felt like my legs would break off before I reached my destination. A warm meal was an almost spiritual event. But I was there at the behest of Uncle Sam. And I'm being paid to bunker down by a snowbank tonight. Do people live in these conditions mostly out of economic necessity then?
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Here in DC, winter only turns truly wicked every 8-10 years, and my wife and I have family here, plus customers. The ice storms are the worst, but otherwise 40 degrees and raining is the typical winter day.
Stay cozy.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
You've got me. We drove eighty miles this morning to Ann Arbor to see a production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, then drove back in blowing snow this evening. Our daughters (aged 10 and 7) were with us; our sons (aged 2 and 4) were at home with a babysitter. I am not sure that we will do this again. In the winter, my bet is that, if we travel at all, we will buy tickets for musical and dramatic events at the very last second when we know the score weather-wise. In effect -- leave aside today's trip -- we hunker down from Thanksgiving to the Hillsdale College Spring vacation in March. I promised my wife when we came here 3 1/2 years ago that she would see the sun at least once each March: so, during Spring vacation, we head South: San Diego (on frequent-flier miles) or DC or Tulsa by car. For what it is worth, we moved here because Hillsdale College is the real deal -- where the sort of thing I do is appreciated. Most universities and colleges are a con.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Sisyphus: Here in DC, winter only turns truly wicked every 8-10 years, and my wife and I have family here, plus customers. The ice storms are the worst, but otherwise 40 degrees and raining is the typical winter day.
Stay cozy. · Dec 12 at 5:02pm
When we lived in Tulsa (I was there 24 years), it was like that as well.
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
I grew up in Iowa, a tad south of where you are. Some people like the four seasons, and summer is not as likely to cook your brain in the upper midwest.
I'm reading the latest Tom Clancy, which features some Russian characters with strong opinions that the only place to be is inside the Arctic Circle. I guess you choose the trials you face, when you have the freedom to do so. Zero degree wind chill, or cockroaches the size of saucers.
To quote the learned and sublime Roseanne Roseannadanna: "It's always somethin'."
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
I grew up in North Dakota, so Minnesota is almost tropical. It's not that bad, even in its extremes - you may discover your ability to conjure new and ornate forms of cursing when you traverse the steppes from the car to the mall, but inside it's warm. Downtown has a series of skyways that connect almost every building on the second floor, and people drive right off the freeway into ramps that feed the skyways.
It's the length of the winter that turns the soul to coal. But by the time you're near mad with it, there are hints and whispers of spring. Our summers are lush and lovely; autumn is gorgeous. But they're all too short. The older I get the more I hear the stirrings of winter in the first cicada of July.
I've had one eye on Arizona for the last few years.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Sisyphus, I don't think DC counts, because you've got all that hot air from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue to counteract the winter blasts.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Professor Rahe, I've never been to Hillsdale, though I received Imprimus for many years. I would endure the elements daily as well to be a part of that institution. But it would take awhile to peel off the layers before I could get to work.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
James, a buddy of mine was stationed at Minot many years ago. He said that while it wasn't the end of the world, on a clear day you could see it from there. By the way, the wind chill where I am is a balmy 2 degrees at the moment, which compared with your neck of the woods might mean that it's time to break out the suntan oil.
Jun '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Being 3/4 Scandinavian, naturally I love the naked trees and the solitude of a bitterly-cold Winter. Another glimpse of Nature's cruel beauty. This morning, when I was hopping around in the snow, outside the house, trying to see how much snow had accumulated on the roof, a bald eagle that was high above--very high--went into a deliberate stall, and started to circle directly above me, to size me up. You could almost see his little mind work. "No...way too big a meal...I'll grab this big gust and get back on the bus."
May '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
We lived in Northern Virginia 25 years ago, and moved bqack to this forsaken frigid wasteland because we wanted our young children to know their grandparents. Now, of course, they are far away (England and Maryland), and we are stuck here- old people with jobs who could never get similar positions anywhere at our age. All the talk about young people out of college underemployed? Try to be 50-ish and looking for work- no matter what your qualifications, skills, or track record.
I could do my job anywhere- say, Southern Mississippi- with a broadband line, laptop, scanner, and printer. I would take less money for the privilege of doing so. My employer is not terribly flexible- they trust me, but are afraid of envy elsewhere in the office, so we just grin and bear it.
As long as the heat works, the snowblower is tuned up, I can listen to podcasts while shoveling, and the car and car heater work, I can tune out the misery and adopt Norwegian stoicism. Here, for your edification, is Powerline's description of the collapse of the football stadium- the video is really amazing:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/12/027895.php
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Look at the far sideline from about 0:08 to 0:12! Is that some poor schlub running for his ever-lovin' life?!
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Mr. Carter, the only thing that keeps me here (Illinois) is family, particularly an older daughter who lives here with her mother and goes to college near me. She's almost done, but now I have a little girl in first grade. My wife and I have agreed to raise her here to be near the rest of my family, whom we dearly love. But we will NOT retire here. Every winter gets harder and harder for me to take.
One thing I'll say: that first morning I walk the dog in springtime, when there's still a slight chill in the air, but the sun is warm on my face for the first time in months…well, it practically brings tears to my eyes. Some ask me if I'd appreciate warm weather so much without the bitter cold winters.
Damn right I would.
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
I live on I-94 between James' current and ancestral homes and have lived in a range of climes. Why here? This is where my first position was. Came to work, stayed for the people. I also get a nicer home than I would have elsewhere, (though my heating bill in winter exceeds $200/mo.) Comfort is multidimensional.
We learn to do things in winter. I used to run through winters; knees, back and age have stopped that nonsense. Never found another sport.
Now we socialize, going out on even the coldest days. In the old days you had to warm the engine for several minutes when it's -10 as you left the party. So one would go out, start it, come back and visit for ten minutes before going back out to leave. We call this "the Minnesota long goodbye." Now we all have remote starters ... but that just means we don't stand in the entryway in our coats. And it's remarkable how many interesting thoughts came out while your car warmed.
However, I visited my parents in Myrtle Beach not too long ago and thought, I could go for this.
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
As a kid growing up in California, I often wondered why people, historically, had settled in places with such godawful climates as Siberia or Minnesota. I suspect the reasons were twofold: they were either forced to flee there by stronger tribes or they chose to settle there because land was cheap.
After that, it becomes a matter of apathy, habit and sentimental attachment.
I once had a job that took me through dozens and dozens of dying small towns, where cemeteries and garage sales were the only growth industries and a three-bedroom house fetched less than $40,000. When I asked people why they stayed, the answer was always the same: my friends and family are here. Honorable sentiments - but not enough to keep me chained down somewhere like North Dakota.
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
As Duane & Peter have noted, family is important. Had my boy's 1st birthday party today. My folks, my sister, her husband and their 14 month old were all here. We'll spend Christmas Day with my wife's folks who live a couple of hours away.
I'm also holding out until the southwest runs out of water so we can sell it to them.
Aug '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Thinking about how folks dealt with it a very short 100 years ago without indoor bathrooms, thermostats, electricity, snowblowers, and all the other benefits of technology , we really don't have all that much to complain about.
I find that my skis work much better on snow, so I kinda like it.
It's only 'bad' if you choose to believe it so and then dwell on the grass always being greener on the other side of the hill.
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
Palaeologus:
I'm also holding out until the southwest runs out of water so we can sell it to them. · Dec 12 at 6:39pm
Fascinating book about that, published in 1986: "Cadillac Desert".
Most of the Southwest and the inter-mountain West are living on borrowed time. Those big irrigation circles you see when you fly over places like Kansas and Missouri are produced by an aquifer that took 100,000 years to fill - and will take only another decade or so to deplete.
Jul '10
Re: A Question for the Snow-Bound
When the AlGoreCult succeeds in outlawing air conditioning I suppose we will rue our move to the south. But five years in Montana brought me to the belief that cold does not improve character in all cases.