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What namby-pamby Washington can learn from tough Chicago about winter What namby-pamby Washington can learn from tough Chicago about winter
(about 7 hours later)
It’s a month into winter and, gasp, winter weather has arrived — with more on the way. A blizzard watch has been issued. A serious storm is likely. Grab bread, milk, duct tape (why duct tape? Who knows, but for God’s sake, do it). Brace for flakes. It’s a month into winter and, gasp, winter weather has arrived — with more on the way. A blizzard watch has been issued. A serious storm is likely. Grab bread, milk, duct tape. (Why duct tape? Who knows, but for God’s sake, do it). Brace for flakes.
Along with the rest of the region, I’m preparing to shop and am making contingency plans. Forecasters have predicted that the snow and winds, which will begin Friday and may last through Sunday morning, could be epic, historic, crippling.Along with the rest of the region, I’m preparing to shop and am making contingency plans. Forecasters have predicted that the snow and winds, which will begin Friday and may last through Sunday morning, could be epic, historic, crippling.
And although I believe them, as a native Chicagoan married to a native Chicagoan,other words come to mind as well: seasonal, appropriate, recurring. And although, as a native Chicagoan married to a native Chicagoan, I believe them, other words come to mind as well: seasonal, appropriate, recurring.
Snow and winter go together, yes? So “normal” is also a good word.Snow and winter go together, yes? So “normal” is also a good word.
I’ve been in Washington for decades, and sadly I’ve lost all my hardiness. But here’s what I used to know from my days in the Windy City: If man vs. nature is an annual theme, then keep calm and pass the shovel.I’ve been in Washington for decades, and sadly I’ve lost all my hardiness. But here’s what I used to know from my days in the Windy City: If man vs. nature is an annual theme, then keep calm and pass the shovel.
Chicagoans have a superiority complex when it comes to dealing with snow. Last month, the website Chicagoist featured an article: “Proof That Chicagoans Are Better At Winter Than Everyone Else.” It cited a study showing that midwesterners don’t call for snowplow services until getting 8.8 inches of snow. Only Buffalo did better, calling for help at 9.7 inches. Folks in D.C. call the snow man at a paltry 6.8 inches (surrounding counties spook at the mere prediction). Chicagoans have a superiority complex when it comes to dealing with snow. Last month, the website Chicagoist featured an article: “Proof That Chicagoans Are Better At Winter Than Everyone Else.” It cited a study showing that Midwesterners don’t call for snowplow services until getting 8.8 inches of snow. Only Buffalo did better, calling for help at 9.7 inches. Folks in D.C. call the snow man at a paltry 6.8 inches (surrounding counties spook at the mere prediction).
In 2009, after his daughters’ D.C. schools closed due to icy roads, a newly inaugurated President Obama got grief for saying, “In Chicago, school is never canceled.” For noting that Chicago schools rarely even canceled outdoor recess. For suggesting others could use “some flinty Chicago toughness.” At the time, Chicago schools hadn’t had a snow day in 10 years. In 2009, after his daughters’ D.C. schools closed because of icy roads, a newly inaugurated President Obama got grief for saying, “In Chicago, school is never canceled.” For noting that Chicago schools rarely even canceled outdoor recess. For suggesting others could use “some flinty Chicago toughness.” At the time, Chicago schools hadn’t had a snow day in 10 years.
I don’t remember having a snow day in the Chicago winters of my youth. Even just typing the words gives me psychic dissonance. I once talked to classmates in more than 20-below-zero wind chill and almost felt the words crystallize as they left my mouth. The 1978-1979 winter season with 14 days at or below zero and a record snow total of nearly 90 inches is the one old-school Chicagoans remember. It cost Mayor Michael Bilandic, who botched the snow removal, his reelection. I don’t remember having a snow day in the Chicago winters of my youth. Even just typing the words gives me psychic dissonance. I once talked to classmates in more than 20-below-zero wind chill and almost felt the words crystallize as they left my mouth. The 1978-1979 winter season, with 14 days at or below zero and a record snow total of nearly 90 inches, is the one old-school Chicagoans remember. It cost Mayor Michael Bilandic, who botched the snow removal, his reelection.
My husband reminds me that “the Hawk,” our nickname for Chicago’s bitter, biting winter wind, seemed like it was always coming for us. So you had better be ready.My husband reminds me that “the Hawk,” our nickname for Chicago’s bitter, biting winter wind, seemed like it was always coming for us. So you had better be ready.
Native Washingtonian Kayce Ataiyero, communications director for Rep. Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), had heard of the Hawk before moving to Chicago in 2005, but says, “You just don’t understand the supernaturalness of it” unless you’ve felt it. “No matter what you wear, how many layers you have, it just cuts you to the quick.” It’s a cold that produces icy determination, that gives city residents an extra gear. Native Washingtonian Kayce Ataiyero, communications director for Rep. Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), had heard of the Hawk before moving to Chicago in 2005 but says that “you just don’t understand the supernaturalness of it” unless you’ve felt it. “No matter what you wear, how many layers you have, it just cuts you to the quick.” It’s a cold that produces icy determination, that gives city residents an extra gear.
In D.C., “Snowpocalypse” and “Snowmageddon” of the 2009-2010 season were truly historic, but other recent snows were memorable for the ways they utterly snarled traffic and shut down the city.In D.C., “Snowpocalypse” and “Snowmageddon” of the 2009-2010 season were truly historic, but other recent snows were memorable for the ways they utterly snarled traffic and shut down the city.
“In Washington, there’s a different mind-set. Everyone holds their breath in anticipation of a regionwide shutdown,” says Ataiyero, whose job often takes her back to the Windy City. “In D.C., people mentally prepare to hunker down, and in Chicago, people mentally prepare to square up against the elements. In D.C. the conversation is more ‘What’s going to be open.’ In Chicago, the assumption is everything is going to be open. You still have to go to work, you still have to take the kids to school, so the conversation is ‘What’s the best way to get there?’ ” “In Washington, there’s a different mind-set. Everyone holds their breath in anticipation of a regionwide shutdown,” says Ataiyero, whose job often takes her back to the Windy City. “In D.C., people mentally prepare to hunker down, and in Chicago, people mentally prepare to square up against the elements. In D.C. the conversation is more, ‘What’s going to be open.’ In Chicago, the assumption is everything is going to be open. You still have to go to work, you still have to take the kids to school, so the conversation is, ‘What’s the best way to get there?’ ”
Some schoolchildren might have to brave the cold and snow without proper winter clothes, she points out, so that has to be taken into account when decisions are made about what to shut down. But for able-bodied adults, she says, grab a hat and keep it moving.Some schoolchildren might have to brave the cold and snow without proper winter clothes, she points out, so that has to be taken into account when decisions are made about what to shut down. But for able-bodied adults, she says, grab a hat and keep it moving.
It’s good advice and something to think about as I consider the movies I’m about to rent and do my end-of-days grocery shopping in advance of the coming storm.It’s good advice and something to think about as I consider the movies I’m about to rent and do my end-of-days grocery shopping in advance of the coming storm.
For more by O’Neal, visit wapo.st/lonnae.For more by O’Neal, visit wapo.st/lonnae.