I have lived my entire life in the Chicagoland area. I grew up in the south suburbs, lived in the city after college and for my first year of marriage, and then migrated to the family friendly, northwest suburbs. I still reside there today. My husband is also a Chicago lifer, without the added benefit of the south side influence. (I love him anyway.) We’ve joked that there is an electric fence surrounding Chicago that has kept us here all of these years. We both admit that we didn’t even realize it was possible to live elsewhere until our children began to comfortably do so.
There are a few weeks every winter in which I, and probably every other Chicagoan says, “Why do we live here?” We have brutal winters in Chicago that include numerous feet of snow, bitter temperatures, and black ice. Most of those days also include zero sunshine. This winter we were tested in a way that I hadn’t seen in my lifetime; the polar vortex. Temperatures, not wind chills, hit -20 degrees. The Chicago River was completely frozen and a city that is always hopping, looked like a frozen apocalypse worthy of a Game of Thrones episode.
Weather experts warned hearty Chicagoans to stay inside. If we insisted on leaving our homes, we should avoid taking deep breaths! Not one to pay too close attention to the weather, I drove into the city for a work commitment. I was able to valet park my car and I did avoid the deep breaths, but I must admit it really sucked. -20 degrees feels as bad as you might imagine it feels. It hurts and it’s darn scary.
My work commitment went well. Then a very kind valet got my car and heated it up for me prior to my arctic voyage back to the suburbs. I made it home safely and committed to moving as soon as possible. Yet oddly, I enjoyed my polar vortex tale and I actually enjoyed the adventure of yet another wild Chicago winter. I was still committed to moving until the first near spring day hit. In Chicago, that means it’s sunny and 35 degrees. Or as we like to call it, “shorts weather.”
Terrible Weather Can Be a Good Thing
What is it about wild weather variations, death defying temperature plunges, and then a slight warm up that keeps so many of us devoted to Chicago? Some of it is clearly the amazing culture that we have in our windy city. (Named for blow-hard politicians, not the weather.) Some of it is also the midwest vibe of fun and friendliness that our city offers. It’s certainly not the taxes or our many crooked politicians who now populate local prisons and jails.
What is it about wild weather variations, death defying temperature plunges, and then a slight warm up that keeps so many of us devoted to Chicago? #happiness #gratitude #winter #Chicago Click To TweetUltimately for me, it’s the adventure of the wild weather combined with the culture and diversity of our amazing city that makes me stay. Californians have often told me that they take their beautiful weather for granted. No Chicagoan does that! We are grateful for the sun, for warmer temps, and for our beautiful beaches on the lakefront. 40 degrees leads to an emptying of homes and apartments all around our city as we soak in a beautiful spring or frosty fall day.
Maybe the polar vortex was meant to remind me and so many of us how truly adaptable we are. Or that we are irresponsible and greedy which has caused global warming – but hey, I’m trying to write an upbeat blog here. Maybe our harsh winters strengthen our gratitude muscle, because without those winters we might not recognize the blessings of a hot summer day. So for now, I stay in my beloved city with its wild temperature variances and the annual eternal hope that comes from a Chicago spring.
Love,
Lisa Kaplin Psy. D. PCC