Headphones On

There is a certain pride that I as a Chicagoan take in my ability to handle the weather. In talking with my friends I don't think this is limited to my perspective alone.
To outsiders, the downfall of this city seems to be the extreme cold weather during our "6 months of winter"¹. Honestly, we don't love the sometimes extreme nature of our winters but there is a certain sense of accomplishment in not letting it affect us. If I have plans and 6 inches of snow falls... you'd better bet I'm suiting up and going out anyway. It may be about -17 degrees outside today² but we get up and go about our lives. That's how we can survive the winter months until the glorious Chicago spring blooms again. It's really the only way. If we sat inside and complained about it we'd be lesser people... but we don't and we aren't... we're Chicagoans and this is one of those things that makes us rather awesome.
After all, you just elected one of our kind President. His resilience and ability to cope with harsh conditions³ may surprise you.

¹And really... as crap as winter can be, it doesn't actually last 6 months. November to March is only 5 months thank you very much.
² Ok fine... it's 9 degrees but it feels like -17.
³Economic meltdown anyone?

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