It got cold overnight recently. We woke up on Sunday to find the city covered in a few inches of snow. But it was warm and the snow was slushy and I expected it to be gone in a day. We hadn’t had any solid freezes yet this year so the ground wasn’t frozen. I guess I was wrong because the few inches of snow was enough of a blanket for when the cold front moved in, everything finally froze.

Now, I haven’t been a fan of the cold and snow and winter in general for many years. It just causes discomfort and problems. Have you driven in the snow? It’s challenging like no other form of challenging. You’re checking the road for snow drifts and hidden ice while at the same time DJing the heating dials in the car so all the windows stay ice and fog free. There was one time I remember where it was a wet snow and Ellie and were driving home in it and it was so cold out that it kept freezing to the windshield and the heat in the car couldn’t keep up. I had to get out multiple times to scrape the window so I could drive.

Then there are the uncontrolled slides. You go in for a turn and the back of your car turns more than the front. Or you come to a stop, but the car wants to keep going. It’s dangerous when you slide into an intersection. I mean, just a bit.

And it takes longer to get anywhere. Longer to get dressed and undressed for being outside. Longer to walk gingerly over the ice. Longer to drive because everyone is being extra cautious.

So would I trade this godawful weather for a warmer climate? Probably not. I get a sense of pride knowing I can tough it out. It makes me stronger and feel more alive. And it’s nice knowing that there’s a change in the year and I can always look forward to spring being a refreshing breath of air.