Negaunee, Michigan – October 15, 2018 – There was snow on my car this morning. It was awful. I live in Negaunee Township, where we tend to get way more of the stuff than everyone else because of the higher elevation. I hate it! My car had at least an inch and a half if not two on it this morning. So sad.
I often wonder why I still live here in the U.P. when I dislike winter so much. I mean, there are reasons, such as my entire immediate family and my husband’s live here in Marquette County and always have, I went to Northern Michigan University and didn’t leave, etc. But I would love to be a snowbird. Living here in the U.P. during summer and fall then flying away to somewhere warm during the harsh winter months would be perfect. Maybe I’d like to be here for a few weeks of winter. But definitely not all nine months of it. It’s too much!
I dislike winter because:
1. It’s freezing. All the time.
2. There’s a ton of clean up such as shoveling, snow-blowing, plowing, etc.
3. It’s slippery and dangerous on the roads and everyone seems to forget how to drive in winter.
4. Unless you play a winter sport or take part in a winter-related activity (skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, etc.) it’s a useless season.
5. It’s dark for 3/4 of the season, which is depressing.
Sure, it can be beautiful and all, but I’d rather have winter for November-December and be done with it. Maybe I could withstand January, too. After that, no more winter!
My son loves winter, though. He gets so excited when it’s snowing. Case in point- he noticed yesterday that it began to snow, gasped with surprise, and immediately ran to get his jacket and stuff on so he could go outside. He’s a lover of snowmen, forts, and snow angels. He’s entranced by the falling flakes, and catching them on his tongue. He enjoys coming in after a long day of winter play to a hot cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows.
He is beginning hockey soon, too, and couldn’t be happier to begin a “winter” sport. Winter mesmerizes him. It melts my icy feelings towards winter when I see his rosy little cheeks and nose with his brilliant smile while we build a snowman together. Living here to witness his enjoyment about winter is worth it.
I guess there’s the answer to why I strongly dislike winter, and why my son loves it. I should take a lesson from him and just learn to enjoy it. I’ll be here a while, so might as well!
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