My latest column for the
Aitkin Independent Age is about a Texan's experiences of Minnesota winter.
This will have been
my third New Year’s since moving to Aitkin from Houston, Texas. When I
first arrived and told people I’d come every summer of my life, they’d
always say, “But have you been here for winter?” I would say yes, but
admittedly, it wasn’t for the entire winter.
There’d be snow in
Houston every few years, but it usually wouldn’t stick. It caused us
kids great excitement and we’d try to be outside all the time it was
snowing. Traffic in Houston is always difficult, but when there’s snow,
drivers unused to it panic and it gets even more crazy. All schools
declare snow days if there’s a quarter of an inch. Being homeschooled,
we were unaffected, but that also meant we could take multiple recesses
throughout the day.
Winter trips to Minnesota weren’t as frequent as
summer trips and we looked forward to them intently. Once here, we’d
spend all day outside in borrowed jackets, mittens and snow pants. The
most fun I remember is when my brother, my cousin and I spent hours
building a multiple-room fort complete with a toilet made of snow. (No,
we didn’t use it.)
Read the rest here.
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