Just as we’re getting ready to leave, L.A. pulls out one of the most beautiful days ever to taunt us and make us doubt the decision that was so easy when it was 105-degrees out. After an all night rain, today was 65-degrees with blue skies and fluffy white clouds everywhere. The play of light that hit the palm trees and made them pop with the contrasting shades was picture perfect. Too bad I didn’t take a picture.
Minnesotans Love
Their Winters!
On the other hand, maybe it won’t be as bad as I think moving to Minnesota in the middle of winter. It seems the biggest factor in surviving the cold besides a good jacket, is a great attitude. Minnesotans love their winters! Everyone I talked to in my 4 days there was joyfully looking forward to winter. Maybe they were just being nice and trying to make me feel better about the move, but I think they are genuinely enthusiastic about winter. The residents here are known for their ingenuity and “can-do” spirit. They make the best of their winters by finding fun activities to do in the snow like ice skating, ice fishing, snow-mobiling, snow shoeing, and cross-country skiing. In fact their biggest and oldest winter event, the St.Paul Winter Carnival, came out of a comment someone made in the late 1800’s that the city was uninhabitable. The locals set out to prove them wrong.
“Minnesota Nice”
So far, I have only spent four days in Minnesota, but I have
talked to countless people on the phone from school administrators to insurance
agents to neighbors, and the “Minnesota nice” I have heard so much about is well
deserved. Or is it just that I’m being nicer because I’m anticipating their nice, so it’s a self-fulfilling
prophecy. Either way, we are all excited about the move.
L. A. Freeways
In contrast to the Minnesota nice, even my relatives here
admit that California is one of the least friendly places in the country. That
certainly applies to driving more than in any other area of civility. I have
been spending more time on Southern California freeways in an effort to say my
last goodbyes, and have noticed the rude driving here more than ever. Granted I
only drove two days in Minnesota from Woodbury to the airport, but the top
speed was about 70 mph on average. In the outskirts of L.A., I often drive 80
mph when there is not a lot of traffic and I have a lot of miles to cover, and
I am not the fastest car on the road.
The other day I was driving 70 mph in the second slowest lane of the 110-Freeway
and almost everyone was passing me. On numerous occasions cars came speeding up
behind me at close range appearing to barely miss my bumper as they made a last
minute turn into the next lane. As I’ve gotten older, I have slowed down, but
still consider myself a good driver and certainly not slow. I have avoided 3
major accidents by driving defensively in L.A. (one car that spun out on the
freeway in rush hour, and 2 that flipped over less than 100 yards from me). So,
other than the snow, I am looking forward to driving in Minnesota!
Flip Flops in the
Snow?
My winter wardrobe is almost non-existent. I own a total of
8 sweaters (half of them short sleeved), 3 long-sleeved shirts, and 7 pairs of
long socks. I mostly wear the athletic type, although I do have 4 pairs of wool
socks I use for mountaineering. The good news is, I found jackets I forgot I
had and don’t wear much in L.A. because it’s too warm. I also invested in an
Eddie Bauer down parka rated to -30-degrees, and a pair of Baffin snow boots
rated to -40-degrees. I’m sure I will stand out in Minnesota not for my
California accent (I’m still trying to find out if I have one), not for my
bleach blond bikini looks (I’m brunette and don’t rock a bikini like I used
to), but for my clothes. I predict I will be notoriously over dressed or under
dressed every day until I get it right. At least it will be an adventure! 
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